Chinese military warns it can hit Hong Kong in TEN MINUTES after Beijing mobilized hundreds of armored vehicles to the city's border as fears of a brutal crackdown rise (36 Pics)

Chinese military has declared it would take them just 10 minutes to reach Hong Kong as the financial hub braces for more demonstrations over the coming weekend. 
Thousands of Chinese military personnel waving red flags paraded at a sports stadium in a city across the border from Hong Kong today, according witnesses, a day after the chilling warning was issued.
Armoured vehicles were also seen inside the stadium in Shenzhen when the event was taking place as concerns build that China may intervene to end 10 weeks of unrest in Hong Kong.  
Military vehicles are parked on the grounds of the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center in Shenzhen today. Chinese military yesterday sent a chilling warning to Hong Kong protesters, declaring it would take them just 10 minutes to reach the financial hub
Military vehicles are parked on the grounds of the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center in Shenzhen today. Chinese military yesterday sent a chilling warning to Hong Kong protesters, declaring it would take them just 10 minutes to reach the financial hub
Trucks and armoured personnel carriers are seen outside the Shenzhen Bay Sports Centre today. The land force of the Eastern Theater Command of China's People's Liberation Army said it would only take forces 10 minutes to reach Hong Kong
Trucks and armoured personnel carriers are seen outside the Shenzhen Bay Sports Centre today. The land force of the Eastern Theater Command of China's People's Liberation Army said it would only take forces 10 minutes to reach Hong Kong
Chinese military personnel gather at the Shenzhen Bay Sports Centre today. The U.S. said yesterday that it was concerned about movements of Chinese forces on the border with Hong Kong and urged Beijing to honor the territory's autonomy
Chinese military personnel gather at the Shenzhen Bay Sports Centre today. The U.S. said yesterday that it was concerned about movements of Chinese forces on the border with Hong Kong and urged Beijing to honor the territory's autonomy

Hong Kong and the mainland Chinese city of Shenzhen shares a 37-kilometre-long (22-mile-long) border. The satellite images suggested the military trucks have been assembled in Shenzhen Bay, a stone's throw from Hong Kong across the water 
Parking spaces at the stadium were filled with more than 100 dark-painted paramilitary vehicles, including troop trucks, armoured personnel carriers, buses and jeeps. 
At least three were armoured wheel-loaders, and two vehicles carried water cannons. 
Satellite images taken on Tuesday showed Beijing had apparently assembled some 500 armoured vehicles to a sports centre in Shenzhen across the harbour from Hong Kong.
Three senior Hong Kong police officers said Thursday that they are not aware of any plans for Chinese forces to join efforts to quell mass demonstrations in the territory.
The officers added that they are unsure whether they would be informed ahead of time if Chinese paramilitary or army forces were deployed in Hong Kong. They agreed to speak to a group of reporters for foreign media only on the condition of anonymity.
Trucks and armoured personnel carriers are seen outside the Shenzhen Bay stadium in Shenzhen today. Thousands of Chinese military personnel held drills this morning a day after a chilling warning was issued by a division of Chinese military
Trucks and armoured personnel carriers are seen outside the Shenzhen Bay stadium in Shenzhen today. Thousands of Chinese military personnel held drills this morning a day after a chilling warning was issued by a division of Chinese military
Parking spaces at the stadium were filled with over 100 paramilitary vehicles, including troop trucks, armoured personnel carriers, buses and jeeps. Pictured, trucks and armoured personnel carriers are seen outside the sports centre today
Parking spaces at the stadium were filled with over 100 paramilitary vehicles, including troop trucks, armoured personnel carriers, buses and jeeps. Pictured, trucks and armoured personnel carriers are seen outside the sports centre today
A members of People's Armed Police Force (PAP) walk by vehicles gathered in Shenzhen today. Seventeen people were arrested on Wednesday in Hong Kong, bringing the total number detained since June to 748, police told a news conference
A members of People's Armed Police Force (PAP) walk by vehicles gathered in Shenzhen today. Seventeen people were arrested on Wednesday in Hong Kong, bringing the total number detained since June to 748, police told a news conference
Chinese paramilitary forces conducted exercises across the border from Hong Kong today. At a press conference yesterday, Hong Kong police also said that police stations have been surrounded and attacked 76 times during the crisis
Chinese paramilitary forces conducted exercises across the border from Hong Kong today. At a press conference yesterday, Hong Kong police also said that police stations have been surrounded and attacked 76 times during the crisis
Police tactics are toughening after 10 weeks of increasingly violent confrontations between police and protesters have plunged Hong Kong into its worst crisis since it reverted from British to Chinese rule in 1997
Police tactics are toughening after 10 weeks of increasingly violent confrontations between police and protesters have plunged Hong Kong into its worst crisis since it reverted from British to Chinese rule in 1997
The United States said yesterday that it was concerned about movements of Chinese forces on the border with Hong Kong and urged Beijing to honor the territory's autonomy.  
But U.S. President Trump praised Chinese President Xi Jinping, calling him a 'great leader' and saying he could quickly resolve the unrest in Hong Kong if he wanted to. 
He also suggested trade talks with China could wait until tensions in Hong Kong eased. He tweeted: 'Of course China wants to make a deal. Let them work humanely with Hong Kong first!'
Protests were planned across several districts of Hong Kong from Thursday, including a teachers rally, and one organised by animal lovers upset that their pets were being tear-gassed.
The Civil Human Rights Front, which organised million-strong marches in June, set another protest for Sunday.
The protesters have five demands, including the complete withdrawal of a now-suspended extradition bill that would have allowed criminal suspects to be sent for trial in mainland Chinese courts.
China reiterated on Wednesday that Hong Kong's protests were 'near terrorism' as more street clashes followed ugly and chaotic scenes at the airport two days ago, when protesters set upon two men they suspected of being government sympathisers.
Seventeen people were arrested on Wednesday, bringing the total number detained since June to 748, police told a news conference, adding that police stations have been surrounded and attacked 76 times during the crisis.
Police tactics are toughening after 10 weeks of increasingly violent confrontations between police and protesters have plunged Hong Kong into its worst crisis since it reverted from British to Chinese rule in 1997.
The land force of the Eastern Theater Command of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) yesterday condemned the violent acts from Hong Kong demonstrators.
In a social media post, the troop also shared a picture showing military trucks parked outside Shenzhen Bay Sports Centre.
U.S. President Trump yesterday praised Chinese President Xi Jinping, calling him a 'great leader' and saying he could quickly resolve the unrest in Hong Kong if he wanted to. He also said Tuesday American intelligence had confirmed Chinese troop movements toward the Hong Kong border. The two leaders are seen shaking hands before a meeting in Japan on June 29
U.S. President Trump yesterday praised Chinese President Xi Jinping, calling him a 'great leader' and saying he could quickly resolve the unrest in Hong Kong if he wanted to. He also said Tuesday American intelligence had confirmed Chinese troop movements toward the Hong Kong border. The two leaders are seen shaking hands before a meeting in Japan on June 29
Trump said in a tweet he knew President Xi very well and that the Chinese leader was very much respected by his people
Trump said in a tweet he knew President Xi very well and that the Chinese leader was very much respected by his people
He then linked the Hong Kong protests to the trade war between the two countries. He wrote: 'Of course China wants to make a deal. Let them work humanely with Hong Kong first!' He also invited President Xi Jinping to participate in face-to-face talks
He then linked the Hong Kong protests to the trade war between the two countries. He wrote: 'Of course China wants to make a deal. Let them work humanely with Hong Kong first!' He also invited President Xi Jinping to participate in face-to-face talks
Despite the rising fears of a military brackdown from the central government in Beijing, Western and Asian diplomats in Hong Kong said China had little appetite for rolling the PAP or the People's Liberation Army onto Hong Kong's streets
Despite the rising fears of a military brackdown from the central government in Beijing, Western and Asian diplomats in Hong Kong said China had little appetite for rolling the PAP or the People's Liberation Army onto Hong Kong's streets
Chinese soldiers walk in formation on the grounds of the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center today. State-run Global Times published a slick video early this week showing columns of trucks and armoured personnel carriers rolling through the city
Chinese soldiers walk in formation on the grounds of the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center today. State-run Global Times published a slick video early this week showing columns of trucks and armoured personnel carriers rolling through the city
On Wednesday the U.S. State Department said it was deeply concerned about reports that Chinese police forces were gathering near the border with Hong Kong. However, the U.S. President Trump praised China's President Xi on Twitter
On Wednesday the U.S. State Department said it was deeply concerned about reports that Chinese police forces were gathering near the border with Hong Kong. However, the U.S. President Trump praised China's President Xi on Twitter
The sports centre, nicknamed 'Silkworm Stadium' for its design, looks out to Hong Kong across Shenzhen Bay. 
'The Silkworm Stadium near Shenzhen Bay is situated 56 kilometres (35 miles) from Hong Kong Airport and it takes 10 minutes to reach Hong Kong from here,' the post warned.
Eastern Theater Command is one of the five military regions in China. Its jurisdiction does not include Guangdong, the province where Shenzhen is. 
The post in question has since been removed from Chinese messaging platform WeChat. 
Hong Kong has been rocked by protests over the past two months against a proposed bill that would allow people to be extradited from the city to stand trial in Communist Party-controlled courts in mainland China. 
Beijing has been apparently reluctant to send in police or army units from the mainland or to mobilise the People's Liberation Army garrison in Hong Kong to quell the unrest. Military vehicles are seen parked in the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center today
Beijing has been apparently reluctant to send in police or army units from the mainland or to mobilise the People's Liberation Army garrison in Hong Kong to quell the unrest. Military vehicles are seen parked in the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center today
A potential military crackdown is seen as mindful of the devastating effect that would have both on the territory's reputation as a safe and stable place to invest in, and as indication of Beijing's failure to win over Hong Kong's 7.3 million people
A potential military crackdown is seen as mindful of the devastating effect that would have both on the territory's reputation as a safe and stable place to invest in, and as indication of Beijing's failure to win over Hong Kong's 7.3 million people
Some of the personnel inside the stadium on Thursday had armed police insignias on their camouflage fatigues
Pictured, Chinese military personnel walk at the stadium today
Some of the personnel inside the stadium on Thursday had armed police insignias on their camouflage fatigues. Pictured, Chinese military personnel today walk at the stadium in Shenzhen which borders Hong Kong in China's Guangdong province
State-run media reported this week the elements of the People's Armed Police (PAP) were assembling in Shenzhen
State-run media reported this week the elements of the People's Armed Police (PAP) were assembling in Shenzhen
The People's Daily and Global Times published videos on Monday of what it said was the PAP assembling in Shenzhen
The People's Daily and Global Times published videos on Monday of what it said was the PAP assembling in Shenzhen
The Global Times editor-in-chief, Hu Xijin, said the military presence was a sign that China was prepared to intervene
The Global Times editor-in-chief, Hu Xijin, said the military presence was a sign that China was prepared to intervene
The mass display of opposition to the bill has morphed into a wider pro-democracy movement that has thrown down the most significant challenge to Beijing's authority since the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997.
The unrest escalated dramatically this week after anti-riot police officers stormed Hong Kong International Airport and fired pepper spray at protesters during bloody clashes.
China's Hong Kong Liaison office said yesterday that anti-government protesters were no different to 'terrorists' after two mainland Chinese citizens were attacked by demonstrators at the airport on Tuesday 'for being undercover agents'.  
A handout satellite image shows military and security vehicles parked in the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center in Shenzhen
A handout satellite image shows military and security vehicles parked in the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center in Shenzhen 
Chinese state media also released videos to show tanks and military trucks being mobilised to the city bordering Hong Kong
Chinese state media also released videos to show tanks and military trucks being mobilised to the city bordering Hong Kong
Expert James Char said the deployment to Shenzhen was to project an image of domestic strength and 'a carefully calculated message to the protesters to think twice about growing or continuing with their recent intensified demonstrations'
Expert James Char said the deployment to Shenzhen was to project an image of domestic strength and 'a carefully calculated message to the protesters to think twice about growing or continuing with their recent intensified demonstrations' 
'We can be certain the regime understands that sending in troops to Hong Kong will inflame the protests and the protesters' anti-China grievances,' he said
'We can be certain the regime understands that sending in troops to Hong Kong will inflame the protests and the protesters' anti-China grievances,' he said
The PAP are in charge of 'handling riots, turmoil, seriously violent, criminal activities, terrorist attacks and other societal security incidents', the People's Daily said in text accompanying its video on Monday
The PAP are in charge of 'handling riots, turmoil, seriously violent, criminal activities, terrorist attacks and other societal security incidents', the People's Daily said in text accompanying its video on Monday
State-run media reported this week that the elements of the People's Armed Police (PAP), which is under the command of the Central Military Commission, were assembling in Shenzhen.
Some of the personnel inside the Shenzhen stadium on Thursday had armed police insignias on their camouflage fatigues, according to the AFP reporter.
The security forces could be seen moving in formation inside the stadium, and occasionally running, while others rode around outside on motorbikes.
Outside the stadium - which is around seven kilometres (4.5 miles) from Hong Kong - there were also dozens of trucks and armoured personnel carriers.
'I don't know why they're here, but it could be related to Hong Kong,' a ticket vendor at the stadium told AFP.
The People's Daily and Global Times, two of the most powerful state-run media outlets, published videos on Monday of what it said was the PAP assembling in Shenzhen.
The Global Times editor-in-chief, Hu Xijin, said the military presence in Shenzhen was a sign that China was prepared to intervene in Hong Kong.
'If they do not pull back from the cliff and continue to push the situation further beyond the critical point, the power of the state may come to Hong Kong at any time,' Hu wrote.
U.S. President Donald Trump also said Tuesday American intelligence had confirmed Chinese troop movements toward the Hong Kong border.
'I hope it works out for everybody including China. I hope it works out peacefully, nobody gets hurt, nobody gets killed,' Trump said. 
Pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong, a semi-autonomous Chinese city, have staged 10 weeks of relentless protests to demand greater rights and liberties.
The Asian financial hub has been governed under a 'one country, two systems' legal framework since its handover to China from Britain in 1997.
Hong Kong allows far greater civil liberties than those on the mainland, but the protesters say those freedoms are eroding as mainland Chinese interference grows.
Occupying 82.7 acres, Shenzhen Bay Sports Center (pictured) was completed in 2011 and cost 2.3 billion yuan (£217 million)
Occupying 82.7 acres, Shenzhen Bay Sports Center (pictured) was completed in 2011 and cost 2.3 billion yuan (£217 million) 
Shenzhen Bay Port (pictured) is one of the six ports of entry between Shenzhen and Hong Kong. The port is popular with Chinese residents who regularly travel to Hong Kong to shop. The daily
Shenzhen Bay Port (pictured) is one of the six ports of entry between Shenzhen and Hong Kong. The port is popular with Chinese residents who regularly travel to Hong Kong to shop. As many as 190,000 people pass through the port every day
Occupying 82.7 acres, Shenzhen Bay Sports Center (pictured) was completed in 2011 and cost 2.3 billion yuan (£217 million)
Occupying 82.7 acres, Shenzhen Bay Sports Center (pictured) was completed in 2011 and cost 2.3 billion yuan (£217 million) 
Police fire tear-gas shells to disperse Pro-Democracy protesters in the Sham Shui Po yesterday
Police fire tear-gas shells to disperse Pro-Democracy protesters in the Sham Shui Po yesterday
A passerby covers her face after police personnel fired tear-gas shells to protesters yesterday
A passerby covers her face after police personnel fired tear-gas shells to protesters yesterday
Police officers and vehicles gather while standing off with protesters during a demonstration
Police officers and vehicles gather while standing off with protesters during a demonstration
Police fire tear gas at anti-extradition bill protesters during clashes in Sham Shui Po yesterday
Police fire tear gas at anti-extradition bill protesters during clashes in Sham Shui Po yesterday
The protest occurred during the month-long Hungry Ghost Festival, when offerings are made to ward off the spirits of ancestors
The protest took place during the Hungry Ghost Festival, when offerings are made to ward off the spirits of ancestors 

he protests, which have become increasingly violent and led to Hong Kong's airport being paralysed for two days this week, have become the biggest threat to China's rule since the handover.
The Chinese military has not interfered in Hong Kong since the handover but it can should it be called on by the city's government to maintain 'public order'. 
James Char, a military expert at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University, said the deployment to Shenzhen was both to project an image of domestic strength as well as 'a carefully calculated message to the protesters to think twice about growing or continuing with their recent intensified demonstrations'. 
'We can be certain the regime understands that sending in troops to Hong Kong will inflame the protests and the protesters' anti-China grievances,' he said.
The PAP are in charge of 'handling riots, turmoil, seriously violent, criminal activities, terrorist attacks and other societal security incidents', the People's Daily said in text accompanying its video on Monday.
Chinese authorities have on two occasions this week linked violent protests in Hong Kong to 'terrorism'. They have consistently described protesters as 'rioters'.

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