Hawkish Chinese media outlet Global Times responded to an extended Twitter thread between Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong and vocal Swedish teenage environmental activist Greta Thunberg.

The Chinese propaganda mouthpiece said "observers and netizens" have criticised the back-and-forth as "a pure PR stunt".

Thunberg urged not to be "deceived" by Wong

In addition, GT said in a tweet on Monday, Dec. 16 that Thunberg was "urged not to be deceived by the #HK separatist".

After @joshuawongcf published a long Twitter thread and interacted with @GretaThunberg, claiming to stand together with her, observers and netizens criticized it as a pure PR stunt. The Swedish activist was urged not to be deceived by the #HK separatist. https://t.co/1oiNxuSC9c pic.twitter.com/ScU7DTnTMG — Global Times (@globaltimesnews) December 16, 2019

GT is under the control of People's Daily, the official mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party.

Wong congratulated Thunberg

Wong had first taken to Twitter on Dec. 15 to congratulate Thunberg on being named the Time Person of the Year.

[Climate change & HK - China is reacting similarly to both]



1/ @GretaThunberg was named #TIMEPOY by the @TIME. She's a Swedish Schoolgirl that inspired #FridaysForFuture against climate change. She's regarded as the figure of the power of youth, and inspired many, including me. — Joshua Wong 黃之鋒 😷 (@joshuawongcf) December 15, 2019

He also applauded Thunberg for her now-famous line, "We can't just continue living as if there was no tomorrow, because there is a tomorrow."

Wong further said both the fights for "democracy in Hong Kong" and for governments to take action to curb climate change are similar in that they cannot be resolved "simply by the hard work of one place".

He added that "China has to be held responsible for both issues".

Thunberg shares Wong's tweet

In response, Thunberg retweeted Wong's thread on the same day, saying he is "brave and inspirational".

Very important thread by the brave and inspirational Joshua Wong. https://t.co/koCles7wyR — Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) December 15, 2019

Commenters supporting Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement thanked Thunberg for shedding light on their activism, and hit back at GT's assertion that it was "a pure PR stunt".

Unsurprisingly, Thunberg's show of support for Wong invoked backlash.

For instance, China Daily reporter Chen Weihua said Thunberg should not comment on politics she has "no clue" about, and that she "must learn a lot more before having any judgment".

China warned against "separatists"

Beijing has repeatedly referred to Hong Kong protesters as violent "separatists".

While none of the five demands raised by the protesters include independence from China, pro-Beijing supporters are inclined to believe that that is what they are essentially advocating for.

The perception is perhaps strengthened by the waving of foreign flags among certain protesters who wish to galvanise support from foreign governments and peoples.

Beijing has reiterated that Hong Kong is an inalienable part of China, and that any attempt to secede "will be crushed".

Top image adapted via Greta Thunberg & Joshua Wong's Twitter