The Chinese embassy to Denmark expressed anger on Tuesday after a Danish newspaper published a satire drawing about the new coronavirus that have killed over 100 people in China, calling the satire a "humiliation."
The Jyllands-Posten, one of the country's largest daily newspapers, published a drawing by Niels Bo Bojesen, which shows a red flag filed with five yellow virus-shaped symbols featuring the Chinese flag.
In front of the drawing, the newspaper asserts the drawing reflects the artist's personal interpretation and attitude that "may differ from the Jutland Post's position."
The coronavirus outbreak that began in the central China's Wuhan city, has killed 106 people and infected 4,535 in China as of earlier January 28.
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China has taken different measures to contain the virus spread.
Local governments across the country have put in place severe travel restrictions amid the Lunar New Year's holiday season, and China also halted all group tours both at home and to other countries since January 27.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and countries including the U.S., France and Japan have recognized the Chinese government's effort and transparency to contain the epidemic and offered their help.
Screenshot of a satire drawing published on Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten on January 27, 2020.
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The Chinese government and Chinese people are endeavoring to respond to the rare public health emergency and the international community has also shown great sympathy, concern and support, the embassy said in a statement on its website.
The Jyllands-Posten published the satire piece by Bojesen at such crisis is a humiliation to China and Chinese people, which shows no sympathy and empathy, the statement read.
Instead, it is an insult and seriously hurts Chinese people's feelings, it added.
It crossed the bottom line of a civilized society and the moral line of freedom of speech, it went on to say.
"We expressed strong indignation at this, and earnestly ask the Jyllands-Posten and the satire's artist to deeply reflect on their actions and apologize to all Chinese people."
(Cover: Travelers wear face masks as they walk outside of the Beijing Railway Station in Beijing, January 20, 2020. /AP Photo)