Nordic Capitals See Peaceful Falun Gong Protests During Wang Yi’s Visit

Falun Gong practitioners held peaceful protests in Denmark, Sweden and Finland during a visit to the Nordic region by Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Foreign Minister Wang Yi. They called for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong in China and voiced support for the more than 450 million Chinese people who have renounced their ties to the CCP. The protests were covered by mainstream media outlets in Denmark and Finland.

Denmark: police halt interference with protests

Wang’s official visit to Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway runs from July 2 to July 8, with Denmark as his first stop. Falun Gong practitioners protested outside the Danish Foreign Ministry and Amalienborg Palace, the royal residence, during his visit. The protests were covered by multiple mainstream media outlets in Denmark, including Politiken, Bornholms Tidende and Kristeligt Dagblad. 

Practitioners held banners reading “Help Stop the Persecution of Falun Gong,” “Falun Dafa Is Righteous,” and messages supporting the Tuidang movement, which encourages Chinese citizens to renounce their ties to the CCP. A group of Tibetan protesters was also present, expressing support to Tibetan people under the CCP’s oppression.

A photographer of Politiken witnessed two Chinese male officers approach protesters and attempt to stop their activity. Danish police intervened and, after a lengthy conversation, ended the confrontation. 

A Falun Gong protester, Janni Lui Witt, told Politiken that one man demanded that she and other protesters leave. Witt responded: “Do you think you’re in China or what? Denmark is a democratic country with freedom of speech, so we’re allowed to demonstrate.”

According to Minghui, Danish police helped practitioners adjust their positions to be more visible to Wang Yi’s convoy. Danish broadcasters TV2 and DR Radio also reported on the peaceful protests. 

Sweden: passersby learn the truth

In Sweden, practitioners held banners in front of Rosenbad, the Swedish government building, during Wang’s visit on July 4. They held banners reading “Falun Dafa Is Good” and “Stop the Persecution of Falun Gong in China,” along with signs calling attention to the CCP’s forced organ harvesting (see feature photo). The protest was peaceful and orderly, carried out in coordination with local police. 

When Wang walked out of the building, practitioners chanted “Falun Dafa Is Good” and “Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance Is Good.” After learning about the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong, many passersby expressed their support and signed petitions calling for an end to the persecution and forced organ harvesting. 

Finland: national media features protest photo

On July 5, Wang arrived in Finland, his third stop on the trip. Local Falun Gong practitioners protested outside the Parliament House and the Foreign Ministry in Helsinki, speaking with local residents about the persecution. 

A photograph of the protest banners was featured by YLE, Finland’s national public broadcaster, with the caption: “Outside the Parliament House, an anti-visit demonstration was held against China’s foreign minister, organized by members of the spiritual Falun Gong movement. They have been persecuted in China for years.”

A Central News Agency report says Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen expressed concern over the worsening human rights situation in China and reaffirmed Finland’s firm stance on defending human rights.

Peaceful and resilient protests

This is not the first time Wang’s overseas travel has been met by protesting Falun Gong practitioners. Earlier this year, when Wang visited Ottawa in May, Falun Gong practitioners held banners including ones reading “Stop the CCP’s Transnational Repression of Falun Gong,” “Stop the CCP’s Attack on Shen Yun” and “Stop China’s Intimidation in Canada”—a response to the CCP’s plot to shut down Shen Yun performances in Vancouver, which was exposed by Global News. 

Since the CCP began its brutal persecution of Falun Gong in 1999, overseas practitioners have protested wherever CCP leaders or senior officials have traveled. Their message has remained unchanged for more than a quarter century—end the persecution of Falun Gong.

All these protests have been peaceful and orderly, winning support from local police and residents alike. Falun Gong practitioners’ resilience in the face of ongoing repression sends a clear message to the world: despite the CCP’s efforts to conceal and distort the truth, its human rights abuses will not be forgotten, and justice will ultimately prevail.