China’s President, Xi Jinping has issued a strong warning against dissent, saying that any attempt to divide the country will end in bodies smashed and bones ground to powder.

According to Chinese state broadcaster, Xi Jinping’s comments came during a state visit to Nepal on Sunday.

Although he did not mention any particular region, the statement was seen as a warning to Hong Kong, where anti-Beijing protests have been ongoing for months.

“Anyone who attempts to split any region from China will perish, with their bodies smashed and bones ground to powder, he was quoted as saying. 

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

Xi Jinping has yet to make any direct comment on the ongoing protests in Hong Kong, so this will be seen as a rare and strong warning.

Since the start of the Hong Kong protest movement about four months ago, China has severally blamed external forces for fueling the unrest, accusing the United States and the United Kingdom of interfering in Chinese domestic affairs.

Hong Kong is a part of China but has a high level of autonomy, with its own legal and justice system and far more freedoms than people have on the mainland.

There has been growing anti-Beijing sentiments for some time, but the latest wave of protests triggered by a proposal to bring in a new law which would have meant that criminal suspects could be sent to mainland China to stand trial started in June.

Many people were afraid the law could end up being used by the government in Beijing to persecute Hong Kong citizens who criticize it. Critics also said it would have undermined Hong Kong’s judicial independence.