China complains to Sweden over ‘interfering’ demand for bookseller’s release
Sweden’s requests for Gui Minhai’s freedom amount to ‘rude’ meddling in China’s judicial sovereignty, Chinese foreign ministry says
China said Monday it had complained to Sweden over its “rude interference” in China’s judicial sovereignty over the detention of bookseller Gui Minhai, who in an arranged media interview last week blamed Sweden for his ordeal.
Gui, a Chinese-born Swedish citizen, was seized by Chinese agents last month while travelling on a train with Swedish diplomats apparently trying to escort him out of the country.
“Gui Minhai breached Chinese laws, which must be handled accordingly,”�foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said.
“The Swedish side’s continued requests that China release [Gui] is a rude and unreasonable interference in China’s judicial sovereignty. China has made solemn representations with Sweden many times.
Asked if Gui had voluntarily appeared in the interview arranged by the public security ministry, Geng only said Gui’s “personal attitude and intention have been clearly expressed” in the interview, which was held Friday, according to the handful of selected Hong Kong and Chinese news media who were invited to attend.