Beijing: China's official newspaper The China Daily has accused the CIA of being behind "extreme acts" by Hong Kong protesters in an editorial warning Beijing has the capability to bring Hong Kong under control.

The editorial on Friday came as the Chinese propaganda machine stepped up the rhetoric against protesters this week, after the Chinese national emblem was defaced at Beijing's office in Hong Kong during protests dispelled with tear gas and rubber bullets on Sunday.

Amid the wave of patriotism, the Chinese consulate in Brisbane issued a statement praising students who responded to "anti-China and secessionist protests" at the University of Queensland on Thursday, the nationalist Global Times newspaper reported.

Student protesters clashed at UQ on Thursday. Credit:Twitter

The consulate said it supported the "spontaneous patriotic behaviour of Chinese students" and "firmly opposes any words and deeds intended to split China".