Xi warns any effort to split China will end with ‘bodies smashed and bones ground to powder’

Chinese President Xi Jinping cautioned over the weekend that any effort to split with China will result in “bodies smashed and bones ground to powder” amid ongoing unrest in Hong Kong.

The Chinese leader made the warning while visiting Nepal, the Hong Kong Free Press reported.

{mosads}“Anyone who attempts to split any region from China will perish, with their bodies smashed and bones ground to powder,” Xi reportedly said.

“Any external forces that support the splitting of China can only be regarded as delusional by the Chinese people,” he added.

Xi did not name any specific territories or countries in his comments, but they came at a time when Hong Kong protests against mainland China rule have become more violent.

Hong Kong police said violence was at a “life-threatening” level after a bomb went off and a police officer was stabbed Sunday. The protests originally erupted four months ago over a now-discarded bill allowing suspects to be extradited to China for trial.

China has alleged “external forces” have influenced the Hong Kong protests, which local groups have denied.

President Trump has attempted not to get involved in the protests, but other lawmakers have been more vocal in their support and have invited pro-democracy activists to testify on Capitol Hill.