China angered by coronavirus cartoon in Danish newspaper
- Image printed in Jyllands-Posten depicts Chinese flag with stars replaced by viruses
- Embassy demands apology, saying cartoon is ‘insult to China’ and ‘crossed bottom line of civilised society’
China demanded on Monday that a major Danish newspaper, which angered Muslims worldwide by publishing drawings of the Prophet Muhammad in 2005, apologise for a cartoon on the new coronavirus outbreak in China.
Jyllands-Posten’s chief editor, Jacob Nybroe, said the cartoon, which shows the Chinese flag with what resembles viruses instead of the normal stars, was not intended “to mock or ridicule China”.
In a statement, the Chinese embassy in Copenhagen expressed its “strong indignation” and said the cartoon printed Monday “is an insult to China”. It added that the drawing “crossed the bottom line of civilised society and the ethical boundary of free speech, and offends human conscience”.
Nybroe said his newspaper “can’t apologise for something we don’t think is wrong … As far as I can see, there are two different types of cultural understanding here.”
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said freedom of expression in Denmark includes cartoons.
“We have a very, very strong tradition in Denmark not only for freedom of expression, but also for satirical drawings, and we will have that in the future as well,” Frederiksen said. “It is a well-known Danish position, and we will not change that.”