STOCKHOLM: China has lashed out at the Swedish government for its decision to honor China-born author Gui Minhai.
Talking to Radio Sweden, Chinese Ambassador Gui Congyou warned Swedish Minister Amanda Lind not to take part in the award distribution ceremony.
“If Lind took part in the PEN awards ceremony, China would be forced to take counter measures,” Radio Sweden quoted Chinese Ambassador Gui Congyou as saying.
A Swedish citizen, who has been detained in China off and on for several years, is to receive the PEN award on Friday. Culture Minister Amanda Lind is set to award him though the honored writer will not be seen in the ceremony as he is doing time in the Chinese custody.
Although the ambassador did not clarify about the nature of action, he gestured that the Swedish culture minister could be banned from China if she took part in the award ceremony. Gui Minhai, a Swedish national now, is based in Hong Kong, and has published books critical of China’s leaders.
He was abducted during his visit to Thailand in 2015, and has been in Chinese custody since then. Swedish PEN is one of the PEN International’s centers spread in more than 100 countries.
PEN International, a worldwide association of writers, was founded in London in 1921 with the aim of promoting friendship and international cooperation among writers globally.
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