China's National Day celebration was tainted by a bullet fired at a student protester's chest in Hong Kong.
As the pro-democracy movement continues in Hong Kong, protesters defied police bans today and gathered in at least six districts in "mourning" of China's National Day. For the first time in four months, a protester was shot with a live round by a police officer amid violent clashes.
The male protester, a Form Five student around 16 or 17 years old, was reportedly shot in the chest in Tsuen Wan and is in critical condition, according to the South China Morning Post. Seen in video footage after the shooting, the injured protester yelled, "Send me to the hospital. My chest is hurting really bad."
Hong Kong protesters rallied today for a "day of national grief" on the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. As the city was paralyzed by teargas and violence, Beijing held one of the largest military parades featuring 100,000 performers.
In his opening speech at Tiananmen, Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) said "no force can obstruct the advance of the Chinese people and Chinese nation" without directly mentioning the ongoing unrest in Hong Kong.
"We have to adhere to the policies of peaceful unification and 'one country, two systems,' ensuring long-term stability and prosperity in Hong Kong and Macau," Xi said.
China's National Day gives Beijing the occasion to flaunt China's military strength by parading its new weapons, including the DF-41, a missile that is reportedly capable of striking the United States within 30 minutes.
While Beijing celebrates its military might and economic progress, Hong Kong is ravaged in smoke and fire with a student severely wounded and over dozens injured.
READ NEXT: Hong Kong Pro-Democracy Movement Inspires 100,000 to Rally in Taipei
TNL Editor: Lea Yang (@thenewslensintl)
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