Comes after Beijing said the protests in Hong Kong were 'the work of the U.S.'

Beijing last week warned its army could be deployed in Hong Kong at request

New rounds of clashes broke out last night between demonstrators and police 
Conflict was due to news that 44 protesters had been charged with rioting 

The White House has said that it is monitoring a sudden 'congregation' of Chinese forces at the border of Hong Kong, according to reports, amid fears that Beijing could step up their control over the city's unrest which has escalated to unprecedented level.


A White House official, who wished to remain anonymous, told journalists that there could be a build-up of military troops or armed police at the border between mainland China and Hong Kong without giving further details, reported Bloomberg.

Hong Kong has been rocked by protests over the past two months against a proposed bill that would allow people to be extradited from the city to stand trial in Communist Party-controlled courts in mainland China.





The White House has said that it was monitoring a sudden 'congregation' of Chinese forces at the border of Hong Kong. China has maintained a garrison in Hong Kong (pictured) since 1997



An anonymous Washington official told journalists that there could be a build-up of military troops or armed police without giving further details, according to a report from Bloomberg
Hong Kong and the mainland Chinese city of Shenzhen shares a 37-kilometre (22-mile) borderThe mass display of opposition to the bill has morphed into a wider pro-democracy movement that has thrown down the most significant challenge to Beijing's authority since the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

Hong Kong and the mainland Chinese city of Shenzhen shares a 37-kilometre (22-mile) border. 

Around 230,000 people travel between the two cities a day through Luohu, a major land checkpoint linking Shenzhen to Hong Kong, according to official statistics. 

Authorities of Shenzhen, a metropolis of about 12 million people, last week had giant images of the Chinese national flag cast on skyscrapers facing Hong Kong to warn the city's protesters, whom Beijing has labelled as radical and violent. 
China stages military drill in Hong Kong amidst protests






Chinese defence ministry spokesman Wu Qian (pictured in 2017) said at a news conference in Beijing that the ministry has been 'paying close attention' to the situation in Hong Kong




The PLA has maintained a garrison in Hong Kong since the city's return to China in 1997, but its troops generally keep a low profile and are rarely seen in uniform in public

The speculation of a military presence on the border came after Beijing this week suggested that the United States had been plotting the unrest in the Asian financial hub, which has entered its eighth week. 

China's foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying yesterday said that the recent violent protests in Hong Kong were 'the work of the U.S.'.

She reiterated that Beijing would not allow any foreign forces to interfere in the country's internal affairs.

Hua's remarks came after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said China should 'do the right thing' in dealing with protests in the territory, urging all sides to avoid violence.
Chinese city projects national flag on skyscrapers facing Hong Kong














Around 230,000 people travel between the two cities a day through Luohu (pictured), a major land checkpoint linking Shenzhen to Hong Kong, according to official statistics





Viral footage from China's Twitter-like Weibo shows authorities of Shenzhen casting images of the national flags on buildings on the waterfront to urge Hong Kong to stay loyal to Beijing


Pro-Beijing supporters hold red umbrellas and a Chinese national flag during a counter-rally in support of police in Hong Kong on July 20. The former British colony has seen a political crisis

The White House's claims also emerged after Beijing last week warned that its army could be deployed in Hong Kong if the city's authorities requested support in maintaining 'public order'.

China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) has maintained a garrison in Hong Kong since the former British colony was returned to China in 1997, but its troops generally keep a low profile and are rarely seen in uniform in public.

Late last month after Hong Kong was rocked by the first wave of protests, the PLA conducted a live-ammunition military exercise in the city in a show of military might.

The high-profile drill, conducted by the PLA's land, naval and air forces at three bases in Hong Kong, was said to be part of an open day event marking the 22nd anniversary of Hong Kong's handover from Britain to China.
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A women (central) leaves the Eastern District Court after facing a riot charge. The accused included a teacher, a nurse, an airline pilot, a barber, a chef, an electrician, a construction worker and unemployed people, according to their charge sheets
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Demonstrators chant slogans as they gather outside the Eastern Court in Hong Kong. The city's police said last yesterday that 44 people, aged between 16 and 41, had been charged with rioting and one other with possessing offensive weapons
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A protester holds a placard that reads: 'No rioters, only tyranny' while chanting slogans as they gather outside the Eastern Court in Hong Kong. The vast majority of the accused individuals showed up in court this morning and were granted bail
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A women (central) arrives at the Eastern District Court to face a riot charge from recent clashes between protesters and police. The announcement of their charges sparked another night of unrest on the streets of the former British Colony





A man (central) leaves the Eastern District Court after facing a riot charge from recent clashes between protesters and police. 43 of the defendants were said to have appeared in court and an arrest warrant had been issue for a 44th who didn't show up

Earlier this month, the PLA reportedly carried out an anti-riot drill in Zhanjiang, a city near Hong Kong, to prepare soldiers for 'emergency situations'. 

Reports have suggested that China's central government was working on an urgent plan to resolve Hong Kong's ongoing political crisis, but officials had ruled out the use of military force.

Dozens of Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters appeared in court today after being charged with rioting, setting the stage for further unrest in a weeks-long crisis that has rocked the former British colony.
Terrifying moment car shoots fireworks at protesters in Hong Kong

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Images show the horrifying moment that a car drives past protesters (left) before launching fireworks in their direction (right)
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Protesters can be stodd watchin in horror as the flames take hold (left) and from afar the street is lit up in pink because of the fire works (right)
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Last night protesters were in a stand off with police as they continued their weekely rallies on the streets of Hong Kong

The announcement last night that 44 people had been charged with rioting - an offence that carries a jail term of up to 10 years - immediately triggered another round of clashes between police and protesters.

During the conflict, a car driving past one of Hong Kong's police stations shot flaming fireworks at hundreds of protesters who were calling for their arrested colleagues to be freed outside the Tin Shui Wai station.

Footage broadcast live on television showed an officer aiming a shotgun at protesters who were throwing objects at him.
Police officer brandishes gun at Hong Kong protesters





Police came out to disperse the crowd at about 10:40pm, with one of the officers filmed pointing a gun at protesters while his colleague is seen attacking them with a baton





Dozens of Hong Kong protesters detained during recent clashes have been charged with rioting - an offence that carries a jail term of up to ten years - as the finance hub's embattled pro-Beijing leaders crack down on weeks of demonstrations. After the announcement, protesters gathered outside the Kwai Chung police station in support of those detained on Tuesday night





Police late Tuesday said 44 of those arrested were being charged with rioting and would appear in court on Wednesday morning. Another man was charged with possession of an offensive weapon






The latest round of clashes between anti-government protesters and police broke out tonight after dozens of demonstrators detained were charged with rioting, an offence that carries a jail term of up to ten years





A police officer points a gun towards protesters. Several hundred protesters mobilised in the streets outside a police station after Hong Kong media said that 44 people had been arrested on riot charges

The previous two weekends had seen a surge in the level of violence used by both protesters and police, who repeatedly fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse projectile-throwing crowds.

A mob of pro-government thugs also attacked protesters, putting 45 people in hospital. At least six suspected attackers have been arrested and some were found to have links to triads.

China Daily, a Chinese state newspaper, today accused the West of 'distorting' the truth of Hong Kong protests.

While People's Daily, the mouthpiece of China's Communist Party, praised the Hong Kong anti-riot police, who have been accused of using violence against activists. The paper described them as 'dedicated' and 'professional'.