Chinese Ambassador to Sweden Responds to Criticism of Beijing’s Pandemic Response

On April 22, 2020, Chinese Ambassador to Sweden Gui Congyou (桂從友) published a signed article in the Stockholm-based daily Svenska Dagbladet responding to an opinion piece by politicians from Sweden’s Moderate Youth League critical of Beijing’s pandemic response. Gui accused them of “smearing and weakening China” (抹黑中國、削弱中國) and of prioritizing ideology over humanitarian cooperation. He also asserted that Chinese citizens enjoy full democratic freedoms and that China is committed to the rule of law and openness — standard Party talking points delivered through the combative style that made Gui one of Beijing’s most prominent wolf warriors.