Washington DC – US President Joe Biden slammed Beijing after the closure of Hong Kong pro-democracy tabloid Apple Daily on Thursday.

The paper warned on Monday it was days away from shutting down as its assets were frozen. Five of its executives were arrested on suspicion of violating the controversial Hong Kong national security law.

"Intensifying repression by Beijing has reached such a level that Apple Daily, a much-needed bastion of independent journalism in Hong Kong, has now ceased publishing," Biden said in a statement.

"Through arrests, threats, and forcing through a National Security Law that penalizes free speech, Beijing has insisted on wielding its power to suppress independent media and silence dissenting views."

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The US president also called for Beijing to "stop targeting the independent press and release the journalists and media executives that have been detained. The act of journalism is not a crime."

Apple Daily, which was founded 26 years ago and had a circulation of around 80,000, published its last issue on Thursday.

Police say that they have found more than 30 Apple Daily articles that sought to convince foreign countries to impose sanctions on China and Hong Kong. This constitutes "conspiracy with foreign countries," they say.

The European Union and Reporters without Borders (RSF) have also blamed Beijing for the news outlet's closure and said it points to repression of media freedom in Hong Kong.