The chief spokesman of China's Ministry of National Defense (MND) Senior Col. Wu Qian, warned on July 24 that  “The behavior of some radical protesters challenges the central government’s authority, touching on the bottom line principle of ‘one country, two systems.’” He asserted “That absolutely cannot be tolerated.” He specifically pointedly to a specific article of a law detailing relations between Hong Kong and the People’s Liberation Army and which allows the military to intervene, when requested by Hong Kong’s leaders.

(Comment: This is the most explicit warning to date since protests began in the former British colony.)