Beijing Condemns 'ludicrous' Cruz Comments

The Commissioner of the Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong on Sunday hit out at comments by visiting US Senator Ted Cruz, describing them as ludicrous, and warning him to "stop running amok on China's land."

The spokesperson for the commissioner's office said the senator told blatant lies and acted as a cheerleader for violent extremists.

Cruz is the highest profile US politician to visit the SAR since anti-government protests broke out more than four months ago.

On Saturday, Cruz condemned Beijing's handling of the Hong Kong protests, saying the suppression of free speech in the territory showed fear on the part of what he called a "dictatorship" in China.

He also said the Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, had scrapped a meeting with him.

Cruz told journalists that Lam’s office had requested that the afternoon meeting be completely confidential and that the visiting senator not discuss it with the media.

“She seems to misunderstand how free speech operates, and also how freedom of the press operates,” said Cruz, a Republican senator from Texas and a vocal critic of China who was stopping in Hong Kong for two days as part of a regional tour.

President Xi Jinping also spoke out against external interference.

During a visit to Nepal, Xi said anyone attempting to split China will be crushed and dismissed any outside force backing such attempts as pipe-dreaming.

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