The United States secretary of state Mike Pompeo has on Friday, said the China should free those two Canadian people, who were detained in China this week alleged for interfering China’s national security, few days after Canada authorities has detained Huawei’s CFO Meng Wanzhou for violating US sanctions over Iran and extradited her to the US.
Pompeo’s comments was the first comment made by US officials over two Canadian citizen arrest, which Justin Trudeau, Canadian Prime Minister, signed that his comment might escalate the trade war between the US and China.
According to news reports, after a meeting with Canadian foreign minister Chrystia Freeland in Washington, Pompeo said, “The unlawful detention of two Canadian citizens is unacceptable.” Pompeo further said, “They ought to be returned … We ask all nations of the world to treat other citizens properly.”
Foreign ministry said one of the detained Canadian citizens in China, has on Friday, granted consular access and the Canadian officials are still waiting to be granted consular access to the second one.
Two detained Canadian citizens are – businessman Michael Spavor and a former diplomat and an adviser with ICG (International Crisis Group) Michael Kovrig. ICG president Robert Malley has on Saturday, called for release of Kovrig.
In an official statement, Robert Malley said, “Michael’s arrest is unjust. He should be freed immediately.” He further said, “Far from being secretive, Michael’s work was open for all to see, Chinese officials first and foremost.” Malley said Kovrig has done nothing event with regards to endanger national security of China, neither as an adviser of ICG nor as a diplomat.
When asked over Meng’s remarks, Freeland said, “We all agree that the most important thing we can do is to uphold the rule of law, ensure that Ms. Meng’s right to due process is respected and that the current judicial process in Canada remains apolitical.”
Trudeau said the detention of two Canadian citizen is “not acceptable”. He said, “This is one of the situations you get in when the two largest economies in the world, China and the United States, start picking a fight with each other.”
Trudeau further claimed, “The escalating trade war between them is going to have all sorts of unintended consequences on Canada, potentially on the entire global economy. We’re very worried about that.”