US President Donald Trump has tweeted that the trade war between China and US will only be wrapped up if Chinese President Xi Jinping finds a humane resolution to the Hong Kong protests. Trump also proposed that the he and President Xi should have a "personal meeting" to discuss the protest situation.

I know President Xi of China very well. He is a great leader who very much has the respect of his people. He is also a good man in a “tough business.” I have ZERO doubt that if President Xi wants to quickly and humanely solve the Hong Kong problem, he can do it. Personal meeting?

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 14, 2019

Amidst criticism from around the world regarding the treatment of Hong Kong protesters by the Chinese government, Trump had mostly stayed silent. With the protests raging on for three months, Hong Kong protesters created a situation where the Hong Kong international airport services were shut down. With the situation getting worse Trump has finally interjected.

With thousands of Chinese losing their jobs and the rapid devaluation of Chinese currency, China is desperate to end the trade war. Trump is leveraging this desperation to push his pro-Hong Kong agenda. Trump did not directly state that US-China trade talks would depend on China's treatment of the Hong Kong protest. However, his statement "Let them work humanely with Hong Kong first!" sends a strong message.

Trump Xi G20
US President Donald Trump (R) US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (2-R) and members of their delegation hold a dinner meeting with China's President Xi Jinping (L) Chinas Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi (2-L) and Chinese government representatives, at the end of the G20 Leaders' Summit in Buenos Aires, on December 01, 2018. SAUL LOEB

Beijing seems to be losing patience with the Hong Kong situation. Chinese government officials are constantly likening the demonstrations to "signs of terrorism." Clashes between the police and the protesters at Hong Kong airport strengthened the Chinese claims of the protests being terror activities.

Satellite images showed that Chinese military forces have surrounded Hong Kong. Some paramilitary drills were being carried out at one of the stadiums in Shenzhen, a city which borders Hong Kong.

AFPTV EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: @AFP has captured images of thousands of Chinese military personnel parading at a sports stadium across the border from Hong Kong pic.twitter.com/0xlNUZqZdq

— AFP news agency (@AFP) August 15, 2019

China continues to threaten the protesters using government-run media. People's Daily criticised the Hong Kong Airport clashes and claimed that those behind the Hong Kong protests should be afraid of the 1.4 billion Chinese people. Government-run media also claims that the protests are being fuelled by Western countries, primarily the US.

Trump and other world leaders have urged Beijing to remain patient and handle the matter carefully. While Trump stated that the protests in Hong Kong are an internal matter, he also hopes that Xi will find a quick and humane solution.

Donald Trump China Hong Kong