U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo says China's detention of 2 Canadians is 'unlawful'

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeosaid today that two Canadian citizensbeing held in China are being unlawfully detained and should be returned to Canada.

Pompeo made the comments in Washington D.C. during a joint press conference with Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland, U.S. Secretary of Defence James Mattis and Minister of Defence Harjit Sajjin. Pompeo also pledged to work to ensure the Canadians' safe return.

"The unlawful detention of two Canadian citizens is unacceptable. They ought to be returned," Pompeosaid.

"The United States has stood for that whether they are our citizens, or citizens of other countries. We ask all nations of the world to treat other citizens properly and the detention of these two Canadian citizens in China ought to end."

CanadiansMichaelSpavorandMichaelKovrigwere detained by China on Monday over what the Beijing News, a state-run Chinese newspaper, described as suspicion of engagementin activities that endanger China's state security.

Pompeosaid the U.S. works to get its own detained travellers returned home and it will "do it in this case as well."

Canada has been granted consular access to Kovrig. Freeland said today that Ottawa's priority now is to gainaccess to Spavoras well, and to ensure that both Canadians are able to receivefull consular services from Canadian officials.

"We will always advocate strongly and fiercely for Canadian citizens when they are detained abroad," Freeland said.

"In the cases of Mr.Kovrig and Mr.Spavor, our immediate concern has been to gain consular access to them and to understand what the charges are that have been put on them by the Chinese authorities. We are seeking that. We are advocating for them very, very aggressively."

Freeland said Canada's ambassador to China,JohnMcCallum, met with Kovrig, a former serving Canadian diplomat on leave from Global Affairs,in Beijing earlier today.

Later Friday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told The Canadian Press that he was expecting diplomats in China to gain consular access to Spavorsoon.

"We seek consular access, which we've gotten already in one of the cases, and are going to have in the second case shortly," Trudeau said Friday. "We're hopeful that it'll happen soon."

Watch the Power Panel discuss the political implications of the Canada-China dispute

Concerns about China | Power Panel

6 years ago

Duration 9:07

Jen, Martin, Marie and Paul discuss the Canada-China dispute.

An escalating trade war

Consular visits can involve assessing the well-being of a Canadian citizen, clarifying the nature of a detention with local authorities, providing legal guidance and seeking access to medical attention.

The detentions of Kovrig and Spavorhappened after Canadian officials arrested the chief financial officer of the Chinese telecommunications firmHuawei,MengWanzhou, on an extradition request from the U.S. She has been released on $10 million bail.

Canada has argued that the request to detain Meng was made at the officials' level and was not politically motivated.

When asked if the detention of the two Canadian men was intendedas retaliation, a spokesperson for China'sForeign Ministrysaid they were being handled according to Chinese law.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today stepped up his criticism of China's actions, calling them "not acceptable."

"We are being absolutely clear on standing up for our citizens who have been detained, trying to figure out why, trying to work with China to demonstrate that this is not acceptable," he told City TV in Toronto.

Mengis being sought for extradition by American authorities, who accuse her of fraud and violations of international sanctions against Iran. Trudeau expressed a fear that a swelling U.S.-China trade dispute now threatens to drag in bystander nations like Canada.

"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," he said.

"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."

Minister'svisit postponed

Meanwhile, Canada and China have pressed pause on plans to mark the end of their joint year of tourism due to the growing diplomatic tensions and federal Tourism MinisterMlanieJolyis no longer heading to Beijing next week.

TheCanada-China Year of Tourism 2018was developed asa partnership to promote travel between the two countries. Jolyhad planned to be in Beijingfor theclosing ceremony, set forDec. 17 to 20.

On Thursday, the minister still planned to attend, but on Friday, her spokesperson said Canada and China had mutually agreed to postpone the ceremony.

"Both governments agreed this would allow us to better achieve our shared objectives," said JeremyGhio.

"We look forward to meeting again to continue building people-to-people ties and strengthening the tourism relationship between Canada andChinaa relationship that creates good jobs for middle class families and opportunities for people in both countries."

The friction between Ottawa and Beijing is affecting the retail sector as well. The popular outdoor apparel maker Canada Goose isdelaying the opening of its new flagshipstore in Beijing.

The store was supposed to open Saturday, but in a message posted toWeibo, China's social media platform, the luxury coat makersaid the postponement is for construction reasons.

The outerwear maker became a style icon in China after launching there last year to much fanfare, but itsshares fell this week after it became the target of Chinese consumers upset by Meng's arrest.

Weibo users have proposed boycotting the company's products as payback for Meng's detention in Canada.

The movement gained momentum after the Chinese state-run newspaperGlobal Times reported on the boycott proposal.

Watch economist Brett House explain how China's economic slowdown and U.S. tariff fight could affect Canada

How will China's economic slowdown affect Canada?

6 years ago

Duration 6:49

'The potential for short-term pain is really substantial,' says Scotiabank deputy chief economist Brett House.