A couple of hours later, Ortagus’ Chinese counterpart, Hua Chunying, retweeted that message, adding her own pointed comment: “I can’t breathe.” Those were reportedly some of Floyd’s last words, captured on camera as a policeman knelt on his neck.

CCP media outlets weighed in, characterizing what law enforcement are dealing with on American streets as comeuppance for U.S. criticism of Chinese actions in Hong Kong.

Last summer, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) attracted vitriol in Beijing for saying during a congressional hearing that mass protests in Hong Kong – against a controversial draft bill that would have allowed extradition to China – were “a beautiful sight to behold.”

The phrase “beautiful sight” was trending on Chinese social media over the weekend, in connection with scenes of looting and burning buildings in American cities.