May 29, 2008 / 02:17 am
Bishop of Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun has said his interview with an Italian newspaper, in which he warned that Chinese nationalism could lead to fascism and dictatorship, was “belated and misplaced” for being published in the aftermath of the devastating Sichuan earthquake.
A May 27 statement issued on behalf of Cardinal Zen said the timing of La Stampa’s release of the interview had dismayed many people. The statement said it was “highly inconceivable” that the paper had chosen the aftermath of the earthquake to juxtapose fascism and Chinese leaders.
Also on May 27 Chinese media carried reports of Cardinal Zen’s critical remarks, which were made the day before the Sichuan quake, May 11.
In the interview with La Stampa, Cardinal Zen referred to analysts who “see in recent events in China the danger that the country is on the road to fascism, or maybe is heading towards a dictatorial regime with strong nationalist tendencies.”