The beginning of the story was quite mundane, Magyar Idők writes: a Chinese family showed up at two o’clock in the morning at a Stockholm hotel, but their booking was for the next day. They asked the staff to allow them to stay in the lobby, but were refused and thrown out on the street. The Chinese family resisted, the father shouted “murder”. All the while the police just watched.
At least this is the version of rapper Pissy, member of the government-sponsored CD Rev (a.k.a. Chengdu Revolution) Chinese gangsta rap band.
But after presenting Pissy’s version of the events, the song veers right into government propaganda:
“What da heck was going on with this? / Is it cultural difference? / you just don’t give a shieeet
Western nations, Sweetie Sweden / always talk about human rights, pay attention
You don’t know how to treat your guests / None of us would do the same to the guests we have”
Subsequently Swedish state television aired a satirical program about China subtitled in Mandarin, containing negative stereotypes about China. The video begins with tips to Chinese to avoid cultural clashes: “For example, we do not poop outside historic buildings. And if you see someone who’s out walking a dog, it’s not because they just bought lunch.”
The spokesman of the Chinese foreign ministry, Geng Shuang said the program was “a gross insult to and vicious attack on China and the Chinese people” and that it was “full of prejudices, biases and provocations against China.”
Thomas Hall, editor of entertainment programs at the state television channel apologized for the satire admitting that “it could be interpreted as offensive”. But by then it was too late. Chinese social media now has several calls from well-known figures with millions of supporters demanding the boycott of Swedish companies such as H&M and Volvo. Volvo was purchased by Chinese automotive group Geely in 2010.
