Svenska PEN urges Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson to demand the release of Gui Minhai, a Swedish publisher imprisoned in China, during a high-level meeting in Stockholm. The call comes as Chinese and U.S. officials discuss trade issues in the city. Gui Minhai has been detained for nearly a decade, accused of revealing state secrets, but Svenska PEN argues his imprisonment is due to his critical publications against the Chinese regime.
Pressure Mounts on Kristersson: Demand China's Release of Gui Minhai
Pressure Mounts on Kristersson: Demand China's Release of Gui Minhai
Ulf Kristersson – schedule a meeting with China and demand the release of Swedish citizen Gui Minhai. This is the call from Svenska PEN as parts of the Chinese government are currently attending a summit in Stockholm.
"We expect Kristersson to address the case and push forward," says Fredrik Fällman of Svenska PEN.
At the start of the week, China and the USA are meeting in Stockholm to negotiate trade issues between the countries.
On Monday, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson held their own meeting with the Chinese delegation. Svantesson described the meeting as "productive."
"We have discussed both trade and the global situation," she told TT.
Demand for Kristersson to Pressure China
This is not what Fredrik Fällman wanted to hear. He is the vice chairman of the freedom of expression organization Svenska PEN and an associate professor of Sinology at the University of Gothenburg.
Fällman demands that Ulf Kristersson calls for a new meeting with China and officially raises the issue of the Swedish publisher Gui Minhai, who is imprisoned in China.
"We expect Kristersson to address the case and push forward," says Fredrik Fällman.
Criticism Against the Chinese Regime
Gui Minhai has been detained for nearly a decade in China, suspected of revealing Chinese state secrets. In 2020, he was sentenced to ten years in prison.
Svenska PEN asserts that Gui Minhai is innocent. They point out that the detention is actually due to his publication of regime-critical literature, which was sold in China.
The Swedish government should do much more to free Gui Minhai, argues Fredrik Fällman.
"It's outrageous to let a Swedish citizen sit in a Chinese prison for so long. What would happen if you or I were arrested on flimsy grounds in China?"
The Chinese delegation at the Stockholm meeting is led by China's Vice Premier He Lifeng, which according to Fredrik Fällman, makes the state visit a particularly good opportunity to raise the issue.
"This is the highest representative to visit Sweden in many years. He is close to the center of power and has significant influence."
Expressen is seeking Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.