Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today pledged his country’s continued defense of the human rights of the Chinese people after Chinese Ambassador to Canada Cong Peiwu warned Ottawa authorities to stop providing political asylum to Hong Kong protesters.
Chinese Ambassador Cong Peiwu warned Canada yesterday against granting political asylum to Hong Kong protesters participating in the “anti-sending” to China protests, which could jeopardize the “health and safety” of as many as 300,000 Canadian citizens still living in Hong Kong.
The Globe and Mail reported that Ottawa authorities recently granted asylum to a Hong Kong couple, which the Canadian government has not confirmed or denied.
Asked by reporters what he thought of Chinese Ambassador Cong Peiwu’s remarks, Trudeau said, “We will speak out loud and clear for human rights around the world, whether we’re talking about the situation facing the Uighurs, or whether we’re talking about the very worrisome situation in Hong Kong, or whether we’re condemning China’s coercive diplomacy.
But he added, “We will not seek to escalate the situation.”
Canadian Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne earlier criticized Cong Peiwu’s remarks as “totally unacceptable and disturbing” and indicative of escalating tensions between Canada and China.
Erin O’Toole, leader of Canada’s opposition Conservative Party, called on Cong to “retract his words and publicly apologize.
Canada’s relations with China hit a freezing point after the arrest of Chinese telecom giant Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou at the Vancouver airport in December 2018 under a U.S. warrant.
Washington accused Meng Wanzhou of violating U.S. sanctions against Iran and demanded her extradition to the United States.
Following Meng’s arrest, China imprisoned former Canadian official Michael Kovrig and Canadian businessman Michael Spavor on charges of espionage, in what was widely seen in the West as Beijing’s retaliation.
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