China has rebuffed demands by Sweden for information on the fate of a Swedish citizen who was seized on a train by plainclothes Chinese officers despite being under the protection of Swedish diplomats.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said it had no knowledge of what had happened to Gui Minhai. Instead, it warned all diplomats not to break Chinese law, the New York Times reported.
"This is not a matter that falls under the purview of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs," a spokeswoman for the ministry, Hua Chunying, said on Tuesday when asked about Gui's seizure from the train. "I don't understand this specific matter."
Sweden's Foreign Ministry, which has twice summoned the Chinese ambassador for meetings, said: "Gui Minhai was seized while in the company of diplomatic personnel who were providing a consular service to a Swedish citizen in need of medical attention. It was entirely in accordance with fundamental international rules that entitle us to give our citizens consular support."
The Swedish Ministry added: "We expect the immediate release of our citizens and that they are given the opportunity to meet Swedish diplomatic and medical personnel."
Gui was one of five Hong Kong-based publishers who were abducted and taken to China in 2015, setting off global condemnation. The five specialized in books that offered critical and often lurid, poorly sourced descriptions of Communist Party elite.
Gui was freed in October but has been kept in China, the Times said. He was reportedly going to Beijing for a medical check-up.
As the train neared Beijing, about 10 plainclothes officers boarded and took Gui away, his daughter Angela Gui was quoted as saying.
Chinese officials later told Swedish officials that Gui was suspected of disclosing secrets, she said.
--IANS
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