China accuses Sweden of protocol breach as row over police treatment of tourists ramps up
Request for investigation into incident still unanswered, foreign ministry says, as man at centre of row admits he ‘crumbled and lost my mind’
China’s foreign ministry has joined the row over the alleged mistreatment of a family of Chinese tourists at a hostel in Stockholm, accusing Sweden of not following diplomatic and international protocol.
Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said the ministry and the Chinese embassy in Stockholm had requested a thorough investigation into what occurred, but had yet to receive a response.
“This is not in line with diplomatic norms and international practice,” he said. “We again call on the Swedish side to pay attention to China’s concerns and take measures to protect the safety and legitimate interests of Chinese tourists.”
Geng’s comments came after Chinese ambassador to Sweden Gui Congyou accused Swedish police of ignoring his request for a meeting about the incident.
“We have notified the Swedish government and demanded a meeting with Swedish police,” he was quoted as saying in an interview with the newspaper Aftonbladet on Sunday.
“But two weeks have already gone, and the Swedish police have not responded to our request. We are especially puzzled by this.”
The dispute began when the Zeng family – a man and his parents – arrived at the Generator Stockholm hostel just after midnight on September 2. As they could not check in until 2pm that day, the family asked if they could wait in the lobby, but were told they could not. When they refused to leave the premises, staff called the police and officers carried them out.