Ta Kung Pao, a pro-Beijing newspaper, published images of protesters meeting with Julie Eadeh in a hotel on Thursday (August 8th, 2019), while also disclosing Eadeh's private information such as information of her personal career, and the names of her husband and her children, which triggered a strong response from the US State Department claiming that China is engaging in "thuggish" behavior. Julie Eadeh is a political section chief working for the US Consulate in Hong Kong. The report by Ta Kung Pao circulated throughout Chinese state media as China continues to accuse the United States and the CIA of encouraging a "color revolution" to destabilize relations between Hong Kong's people and Beijing's rule. China's foreign ministry has accused the US of direct involvement in the Hong Kong protests calling it a "creation of the United States".
Chinese state media has also targeted Joshua Wong, a known protestor who was released from jail after he was arrested back in 2014 for participating in pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, while also accusing him of foreign manipulation. On Facebook, Wong has disclosed that he did meet with US officials but has dismissed accusations of foreign manipulation regarding the recent leaks. He said within a post on Facebook, "In the past, I've also visited Washington and communicated directly with U.S. Lawmakers," he continues, "This meeting is nothing special."
The protests in Hong Kong have gone on for 9 consecutive weeks with no sign of dissolving. Trump has also made a recent announcement that "We are not ready to make a deal" regarding trade with China and Huawei.
