CHINA’S INFLUENCE IN THE SWEDISH INFORMATION ENVIRONMENT
CHINA’S INFLUENCE IN THE SWEDISH INFORMATION ENVIRONMENT

Author(s): Viking Bohman
Subject(s): Economic policy, Government/Political systems, International relations/trade, Security and defense, Political behavior, Politics and communication, Politics and society, Comparative politics, Economic development, ICT Information and Communications Technologies
Published by: NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence
Keywords: China; Sweden; Information environment; threats against media outlets; accessing the Swedish market; Security; investments; diplomatic measures;
Summary/Abstract: Sweden provides one of the most striking examples of the Chinese government’s ‘wolf warrior diplomacy’. Between 2018 and 2021, the Chinese Embassy in Stockholm was engaged in an intense campaign of public criticism and threats against media outlets, journalists, human rights activists, scholars, politicians and authorities. The campaign targeted media reporting and policy decisions described as biased against China. Meanwhile, Sino-Swedish relations deteriorated, Swedish media reporting became more critical, and Swedish public opinion on China plummeted. Points of contention include China’s treatment of Gui Minhai, a Swedish citizen imprisoned in China, and more recently, the decision to exclude the Chinese companies Huawei and ZTE from some parts of Swedish 5G telecommunications networks.

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