Incident reflects discontent over widening wealth gap

That a small dispute would evolve into somewhat of a diplomatic row and tear public opinion apart might have been beyond the expectations of the parties involved.

Since the three Chinese tourists arrived earlier than planned, they should have undertaken the due obligations according to the contract with the hostel. And if the police had taken proper measures in Sweden, the incident might not have escalated to this extent.

As long as Chinese tourists don’t break the Swedish laws, they deserve 100 percent respect from the police regardless of whether they engage in a heated argument. But it should be mentioned here that certain Chinese media outlets have broken the principle of objective reporting, as they have failed to present the facts and information from the two sides involved. And one-sided reports have made the debate on the incident even more heated and biased.

Another fact to be noted is the discontent over the widening wealth gap. Some Chinese netizens have criticized the tourists simply because they could afford to holiday in Sweden, which is a costly affair. They claim the tourists must have “violated” local rules, as many rich people in China are used to “enjoying privileges” at home. That’s why they have vented their anger on the Chinese tourist family.

So the discontent over the widening wealth gap, rather than the incident itself, deserves greater attention.

Qiao Xinsheng, a professor of law at Zhongnan University of Economics and Law.