China Accuses Canada of "Deliberately Arising Trouble" Over Huawei CFO’s Arrest
Tensions between China and Canada have escalated further after China’s foreign ministry accused the Canadian government of "deliberately arising trouble" over the arrest of Huawei’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Meng Wanzhou, in December 2018.
The statement, released on Monday, came after China detained two Canadians, Michael Kovrig, a diplomat, and Michael Spavor, a businessman, on allegations of espionage and theft of state secrets. The move is seen as a retaliatory measure by China in response to the arrest of Meng, who is the daughter of Huawei’s founder Ren Zhengfei.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Lu Kang, said that Canada’s actions were "profoundly wrong" and "deliberately arose trouble" by detaining Meng without just cause. Lu accused Canada of " politiquezing" the case, saying that the arrest was a "grave violation of China’s sovereignty and dignity."
The move has sparked widespread outrage in China, with many calling for the release of the two Canadian detainees and condemning the Canadian government’s "arbitrary" arrest of Meng.
Meng was arrested at Vancouver airport on December 1, 2018, at the behest of the United States, which is seeking to extradite her to face charges of bank fraud and conspiracy related to violations of US sanctions against Iran. China has repeatedly demanded her release, saying the arrest was "unacceptable" and "arbitrary."
The diplomatic row has put both countries on a collision course, with China imposing economic sanctions on Canadian canola exports and restricting imports of Canadian pork and beef. The detention of the two Canadians has also led to a sharp decline in Sino-Canadian relations, with many Chinese citizens calling for a full-scale boycott of Canadian products and services.
The situation has also raised concerns about the potential impact on global trade, as well as the implications for the arrest and extradition of individuals across borders.
"China takes this situation very seriously and will take all necessary measures to protect its interests," Lu said, warning that the situation "will have severe consequences if not resolved promptly."
The Canadian government has maintained that Meng’s arrest was a routine law enforcement matter, and that it is committed to upholding the rule of law and respecting the internationally recognized process of extradition.
In a statement, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that his government is "deeply concerned" about the detention of the two Canadians and is working to resolve the situation "as soon as possible."
As the standoff continues to escalate, many are left wondering if the crisis will have far-reaching consequences for international relations and global trade. As China and Canada remain at odds, it is clear that the situation will not be resolved anytime soon.
