Thread by @JerkerHellstrom

“A new Swedish line for China”: op-ed by the leader and foreign policy spokesperson of Sweden’s Moderate Party di.se/debatt/ny-sven… @didebatt (thread)

says that “Sweden hasn’t fully pondered our relationship with the new China. It’s about time.“

Goes on to name five areas where there is a need for a “straighter and clearer” Swedish line vs China.

1. Human rights: millions of Uighgurs in camps in Xinjiang; China tops @amnesty execution list; it's been 4 years since Swedish publisher #GuiMinhai was kidnapped by the Chinese state.

@amnesty The lack of freedom of expression and China's "great firewall" has resulted in a narrow-minded and distorted world view.

@amnesty There can be no doubt about which side Sweden is on when democracy champions stand up for free media, freedom of opinion and an independent judiciary - in #HongKong and mainland.

Sweden and other EU member states should make tougher demands on China to respect human rights.

@amnesty 2. Stronger reciprocity: Xi Jinping's China is not close to fulfilling its role as an internationally respected economic great power.

Chinese companies in the West must be screened by the same standards as our own in terms of competition, subsidies, governance and corruption.

@amnesty 3. Prevention of intellectual theft: The main threat to Sweden currently targets Swedish business and free research, by way of espionage and industrial theft that can be attributed to China.

”Swedish interests” encompass more than those of the Swedish state.

@amnesty 4. Defence against influence campaigns: Enduring protests in Hong Kong show how the Chinese propaganda is becoming ever more offensive and a larger problem, also in the West.

The Chinese media’s reports on foreign conspiracies towards China are systematically falsifying reality.

@amnesty It's remarkable how China pursues pure propaganda work in Sweden through paid advertisements; the Chinese embassy is pressuring politicians, journalists and human rights activists ever more aggressively. And why @UNDP suddenly cancelled its event [in May] remains unclear.

@amnesty @UNDP The greyzone threat that we currently face from several authoritarian states must be thwarted.

@amnesty @UNDP 5. Joint European action: pronounced and unified European action in close cooperation with the US is a vital tool to manage China.

The EU must act in solidarity to counter Chinese pressure on individual member states.

@amnesty @UNDP The EU China strategy has laid the groundwork for a more sober view of China. It is now up to Sweden to stand up for human freedoms and rights together with others, and to protect the interests of the state, citizens and business in the relationship with China. (end)