Many American geopolitical rivals issued statements following riots at the United States Capitol that left four dead and temporarily delayed the certification of President-elect Joe Biden’s victory.
China
Chinese state media compared the Capitol riots to the pro-democracy Hong Kong protests, accusing Americans of hypocrisy. (RELATED: Ted Cruz Compares Hong Kong Pro-Democracy Protests To Berlin Wall)
.@SpeakerPelosi once referred to the Hong Kong riots as “a beautiful sight to behold” — it remains yet to be seen whether she will say the same about the recent developments in Capitol Hill. pic.twitter.com/91iXDzYpcO
— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) January 7, 2021
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hua Chunying blamed “a handful of anti-China politicians” who will “stop at nothing to sabotage US-China relations.”
A handful of anti-China politicians in the #US have been staging a final show of madness. They’ll stop at nothing to sabotage China-US relations for selfish gains. Such acts will surely be punished by history.
— Hua Chunying 华春莹 (@SpokespersonCHN) January 7, 2021
Iran
President Hassan Rouhani told reporters in a video translated by the Daily Mail that the riots show “what a failure Western democracy is, and how fragile and weak its foundation is.”
While he was elected by popular vote, Rouhani’s presidential candidacy was approved by Iran’s Guardian Council and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. They ensure that all presidential candidates “have an unblemished record of piety and fidelity to the Islamic Republic,” according to Reuters.
Russia
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova criticized American electoral processes as “archaic,” Al Jazeera reported. She went on to blame American media for stoking division.
“The celebration of democracy is over,” Russian Federation Council Foreign Affairs Chairman Konstantin Kosachyov posted on Facebook. The Federation Council is the upper house of Russian parliament.
Kosachyov claimed that he was “saying this without a shadow of gloating,” according to Facebook’s translation.
У событий в Вашингтоне и иже с ним несколько слоев причин, выводящих людей на улицы:
На поверхности – самовлюбленность,…
Posted by Константин Косачев on Wednesday, January 6, 2021
Venezuela
A press release from the Venezuelan government claimed that the United States is facing a “spiral of violence.” It also alleged that American “policies of aggression” create similar situations in other countries, according to a translation offered by The Independent.
Venezuela has issued a shady statement reacting to the US violence. (trans via @kenbensinger) pic.twitter.com/4smjjaPp8a
— David Mack (@davidmackau) January 7, 2021