The president signaled a weak stance toward China when asked about ongoing protests in Hong Kong over a highly unpopular extradition law, using similar language as Chinese state media to refer to the protesters. Protesters demand the law be formally withdrawn, but government officials have refused to do so.
Despite the use of force by police forces and a large gathering of Chinese military forces just across the border in Shenzhen, protesters have continued to conduct activities at the Hong Kong airport resulting in flight disruptions. A bipartisan group of lawmakers have asked the Trump administration to block the sales of weapons to the Hong Kong police, but the administration has not taken any action.
While it was returned to China from the British in the 90s, Hong Kong has a democratic government and capitalist economy under the “one nation, two systems” policy. In 2047, the two are scheduled to fully integrate; however, China has already been exercising increasing control over the Hong Kong government. Under the current Beijing-backed chief executive, opposition politicians have been removed from their offices or disqualified from election bids and one opposition party was banned from participating in the government. The bill that set off the protesters would allow expanded extradition from Hong Kong to China.
Ironically, Trump’s weakness is causing him to miss an opportunity to gather allies in his ongoing trade war with China. China has also, without evidence, blamed the United States for the ongoing unrest in Hong Kong.