Finland’s Prime Minister Apologises to Asian Nations Over Racism Scandal
Finland’s government has been compelled to issue an official apology after a racism controversy erupted involving public figures in the Nordic nation. According to Reuters, Finland Prime Minister apologises to Asian nations following a backlash triggered by derogatory social media posts that many viewed as racially insensitive and damaging to the country’s reputation. Reuters
The apology underscores growing concern over how racial insensitivity can affect diplomatic ties, national image, and business interests, particularly with key partner countries in Asia.
What Sparked the Racism Controversy
The scandal — dubbed the “slanted eyes” incident by Finnish media — originated earlier in December when the then Miss Finland, Sarah Dzafce, shared a photograph on social media showing her pulling back the corners of her eyes alongside a caption referring to “eating with a Chinese person”. Reuters
Key developments include:
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Miss Finland’s post: Dzafce’s image was widely condemned as racially insensitive toward East Asians.
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Title revoked: The Miss Finland organisation responded by stripping her of the title, stating that her actions contradicted the organisation’s values.
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Politicians’ posts: The situation escalated when two Finnish Members of Parliament and a Member of the European Parliament from the nationalist Finns Party posted similar images on social media in apparent support.
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Backlash: These actions intensified public and international outcry, prompting diplomatic and commercial repercussions. Reuters
Even though Dzafce issued an apology and stated she did not intend to offend anyone, the ensuing controversy widened due to subsequent posts from elected officials that echoed the same offensive gesture. Global Times
The Prime Minister’s Apology and Official Response
Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, leader of Finland’s four-party coalition government, addressed the controversy with an authoritative public statement, acknowledging the seriousness of the fallout.
In his apology, Orpo emphasised that:
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Finland does not tolerate racism and that such behaviour contradicts the nation’s core values of equality, inclusivity, and mutual respect.
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The offending posts do not reflect the values of Finnish society or government policy.
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The government is committed to combating racism and fostering respectful international relations.
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Messages were disseminated through Finnish embassies in China, Japan, and South Korea in order to ensure clarity and reach among affected Asian nations. Reuters+1
This formal apology was designed not just as rhetoric but as a diplomatic effort to repair relationships in key Asian markets and to demonstrate Finland’s official stance against racial insensitivity.
Diplomatic and Economic Implications
The controversy swiftly took on an international dimension, notably affecting Finland’s relationships with Asian countries and its economy. One clear example is the national airline, Finnair, which derives a significant portion of its revenue from long-haul flights to East Asia. The reported backlash in Asian markets could have commercial implications if not addressed convincingly. Reuters
International observers have noted that diplomatic missteps — even those arising from individual social media posts — can have repercussions on tourism, bilateral cooperation, and trade relations.
For context on how diplomatic incidents can impact economic ties, see the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) analysis of trade diplomacy (External resource: UNCTAD – Trade Diplomacy and Economic Impact — https://unctad.org)
Domestic Political Reactions
Within Finland, the controversy has triggered a broad dialogue across political parties and civil society:
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Government coalition dynamics: The Finns Party, which is part of the ruling coalition, has had internal disagreements over the posts and their handling. Orpo’s apology sought to draw a clear line between official government policy and individual actions by party members. Global Times
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Parliamentary criticism: Leaders from other coalition parties have condemned the social media posts as “irresponsible” and inconsistent with Finnish norms of respect and tolerance. Some government MPs have called for discussions on preventive measures against future incidents. Yle.fi
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Opposition voices: Critics argue that such incidents highlight a need for stronger anti-racism policies and for political parties to adopt clearer standards of conduct for their representatives.
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Public discourse: The issue has revived public debate on racism in Finnish society, particularly in the context of past controversies involving high-profile racist incidents. Wikipedia
This domestic dimension demonstrates that the scandal is not merely a diplomatic issue but also a matter of national social reflection and political accountability.
For more on how racism has shaped recent political discourse in Finland, explore the Racism in Finland overview. (External resource: Racism in Finland – Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racism_in_Finland)
Broader Social and Cultural Concerns
Beyond the immediate political fallout, the incident touches on broader cultural sensitivities:
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Racial stereotypes: The use of an offensive gesture tied to racial features draws attention to how ancient stereotypes persist and how social media can amplify offensive content.
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Role of influencers: Public figures, including cultural icons and politicians, carry responsibility given their visibility. Missteps can rapidly become international incidents in an interconnected world.
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Education and awareness: There is a growing call by civil society groups to improve education and awareness around cultural sensitivity and the impact of racism.
The ongoing scandal may catalyse deeper discussions on inclusion and respectful representation within Finnish institutions and society.
For academic perspectives on culture, inclusion, and anti-racism, see the European Network Against Racism (External resource: ENAR – European Network Against Racism — https://enar.eu)
Looking Ahead
As the Finns Party prepares to address the issue internally at its weekly meeting, the focus is on how the party will respond to both political and social criticism. Whether disciplinary measures or public commitments to behaviour standards are adopted will influence how quickly Finland can move past the scandal. Reuters
Meanwhile, Finland’s broader political leadership will likely continue engagement with Asian partners to reaffirm shared values and cooperation, while ensuring that diplomatic relationships remain stable.
Conclusion
The episode in which Finland Prime Minister apologises to Asian nations over inappropriate social media posts by public figures reflects both the seriousness of racial sensitivity on the global stage and the challenges that modern governments face in upholding national values. It also serves as a reminder that political leaders must respond decisively to such controversies to mitigate diplomatic, economic, and social fallout. As Finland navigates this incident, the emphasis on equality, inclusion, and respectful engagement is paramount.