In China, a European executive becomes an increasingly rare critical voice

President of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China Joerg Wuttke speaks during an interview with Reuters, at the chamber's office in Beijing, China September 29, 2022. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang

As China clamps down on dissent and the space for engagement with authorities or airing of critical views shrinks, German executive Joerg Wuttke has become increasingly conspicuous for his outspokenness.

A four-decade China resident, Wuttke has been especially vocal this year as president of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China in calling out Beijing over the mounting economic toll of a zero-COVID policy that has caused frequent lockdowns and all but shut the country's borders.