The Chinese Embassy in Sweden has taken the habit of criticizing Swedish media for allegations of China's embassy being perceived as incorrect. According to a report from the Foreign Policy Institute, the campaign from China against Sweden has been stepped up since the beginning of 2018.
Now, Swedish PEN, the Swedish Writers' Association and the Journalist Association criticize the embassy's speech against the author and journalist Kurdo Baksi.
After Kurdo Baksi commented on the imprisoned Swedish-Chinese publisher Gui Minhai and suggested that the Swedish embassy in China should be moved to Hong Kong, the embassy wrote a post where they felt that Baksi should not be given a platform to comment on serious media.
"The embassy for one of the world's superpowers acts in a way that is intended to silence a journalist, then we must respond," says Jesper Bengtsson, chairman of Swedish PEN.
"We have to respond"Earlier in September, China's ambassador Gui Congyou told the Culture News that they are saying what they believe to be lies.
- It's not about increased activity. As we see that Swedish media's reporting on China seriously distorts the real situation in China, we must clarify the situation and respond to it.
But Jesper Bengtsson doesn't like that argument.
- They have every right to say to Kurdo Baksi and Swedish leaders, but there is a diplomatic protocol. It is unusual for representatives of one country to enter into internal political debates in another country. Here they try to limit Kurdo Bakka's opportunity to comment.
"No politician has called"Kurdo Baksi tells the Culture News that he is happy with the support of PEN, the Writers 'Union and the Journalists' Association, but also thinks that the politicians should raise their voice against China.
- China is trying to export its "freedom of expression". It would have been great if the Minister of Foreign Affairs or Culture could take the leaf out of his mouth and criticize this. No politician has called or stated, I think that is a bit strange.