The official China Daily reported that Hong Kong’s “fugitive rendition arrangements are purely an internal affair”, and that countries, such as the United States and Great Britain, should have no business in the matter.

“Indeed, their sanctimonious posturing is hypocritical, given their bluster is maliciously intended and fans anti-government sentiment in Hong Kong and incites lawlessness,” it said.

Foreign “meddling” in the matter of Hong Kong is two-faced and “ill-intentioned”, and Beijing will still support the embattled chief executive Carrie Lam in spite of the demand for her resignation, it further added.

On Saturday, Lam said that a contentious bill modifying Hong Kong’s extradition law would be delayed indefinitely, after which activists and violent protestors demanded that she steps down immediately.

But China’s support for Lam will “not waver, not in the face of street violence nor the ill-intentioned interventions of foreign governments”, the paper stated in an editorial.

The state-owned Global Times tabloid cautioned the United States to not use Hong Kong as a “bargaining chip” to pressure trade compromises.

“The riots in Hong Kong will only consolidate Beijing’s tough stance against Washington,” it said.

Since last year, China and the U.S. have been entangled in trade tension, marked by retaliatory tariffs as Washington desires changes to Beijing’s business policies.