The German ambassador to China was summoned by the country's authorities on 11 September with Beijing's representative in Germany explaining that it was linked to the reception of Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong, which sent negative signals for the two states' bilateral relations. The Chinese ambassador further stated that Beijing has evidence proving that foreign countries have intervened in the events taking place in Hong Kong recently.
"More and more facts have made it clear that, under the pretext of democracy, some radicals want to hide their true face [and are only] against the rule of law and of social order", the ambassador said.
Beijing criticised Wong's reception by Germany's Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on 10 September, calling it "disrespectful to China's sovereignty" and accused the European state of trying to interfere in China's internal affairs.
"It is extremely wrong for German media and politicians to attempt to tap into the anti-China separatist wave", China's Foreign Ministry stated.
Joshua Wong gained fame as an activist by calling to oppose Beijing in Hong Kong, both internally and internationally. He is expected to visit the US after Germany to deliver the same message.
Protesters in Hong Kong have been taking to the streets since March 2019 in a bid to force the government drop a bill, allowing extraditions to mainland China. Despite the local authorities agreeing to suspend the bill, the protests only escalated in August 2019, leading to clashes with police, arrests and injuries on both sides. The bill was eventually withdrawn on 4 September.
Police, while trying to disseminate illegally organised protests, were reportedly attacked with bricks and petrol bombs on multiple occasions. Although they only responded with the use of tear gas and rubber bullets, some foreign countries, namely the US, condemned their "use of force" against "peaceful" protesters.