According to the website of the Chinese Embassy in Canada, on December 9, Cong Peiwu, the ambassador to Canada, published a signed article entitled “It’s Canada’s turn to answer some questions in Sino-Canada relations” in the mainstream media Ottawa Life magazine in the Canadian Capital Territory, expounding China’s case in the Meng Wanzhou incident and the case of two Canadian citizens.
Position, clarification and refuted some doubts and accusations in Canada. The full text is as follows:
On December 1, the Meng Wanzhou incident had passed two years. The case of Canadian citizens Cummingkai and Michael is also about to expire for two years. The Sino-Canada relationship is once again at sensitive nodes.
There are many comments in Canada, not only rational appeals on the Bangladeshi incident, but also false accusations against China in the Kang and Mai cases. In response to these questions, I would like to respond as follows:
First, are the two Canadian citizens “arbitraryly detained” by China? Some people accused China of “arbitrary detention” Kang and Mai. The fact is that the relevant Canadian citizens were arrested and prosecuted by the competent Chinese authorities according to law on suspicion of crimes against China’s national security. The Chinese judicial department handles the case independently in accordance with the law.
The relevant facts of the crime of the Canadian citizens are clear and the evidence is indeed sufficient. China is a country ruled by the law, and everyone is equal before the law. Safeguarding national security is the responsibility of each country, and combating national security crimes is the prevailing practice of all countries. Attacking and smearing China’s judicial system due to the different judicial systems of China and Canada is a typical “double standard”.
Second, have the two Canadian citizens been treated badly by China? In addition, some media claimed that Kang and Mai were treated harshly during their detention, were not allowed to sleep, and even forced to take away their glasses.
The fact is that China has guaranteed their legal rights in accordance with the law. Their detention treatment is the same as that of other similar people. During the epidemic, China also took practical measures to improve the treatment of the two Canadian citizens to the extent permitted by law, including improving their meals, increasing the number of letters and articles transferred to the two, and arranging for Kang Mingkai to talk to his father on the phone.
Recently, when the epidemic prevention and control conditions permit, the competent Chinese authorities arranged for officials of the Canadian Embassy in China to conduct video visits to Kang and Mai. Individual media distorted and reported relevant cases, which violated professional ethics.
Third, has China engaged in “coercive diplomacy”? Some people criticize China’s diplomatic becoming “force” and engaged in “coercive diplomacy” in recent years. The fact is that China unswervingly follows the path of peaceful development, insists that the country is equal regardless of size, and has never made any coercion or interference in other countries.
Since modern times, China has been repeatedly bullied by Western powers. It knows the truth that “does not do to others what you do not want to yourself” and has always opposed interference in the internal affairs of other countries. At the same time, we firmly safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, and never promise anyone or any force to attempt to impose their will on China, change China’s direction of progress, and obstruct the efforts of the Chinese people to create their own better life through bullying.
The Meng Wanzhou incident not only hurt Sino-Canada relations, but also seriously hurt the feelings of the Chinese people. The Chinese people have a lot of questions to ask Canada: Why did the United States sign bilateral extradition treaties with so many countries? Meng Wanzhou traveled to many countries before coming to Canada, but only Canada detained
Ms. Meng at the request of the United States? Why do you insist on advancing the judicial process of the Meng incident when the political nature of the incident is very clear? Why does the Canadian side cover up on issues such as case information disclosure and try to prevent the disclosure of more documents involved in the case? Canada should seriously consider these issues.
The Meng Wanzhou incident is a serious political incident fabricated by the United States to suppress Chinese high-tech companies and Huawei companies. The Canadian side has wrongly arrested Ms. Meng without violating any Canadian law, which has caused serious difficulties in Sino-Canada relations.
This incident is the crux of Sino-Canada relations and an insurmountable barrier in the relationship between the two countries. The key to solving the problem is in the hands of the Canadian side. I once again call on the Canadian government to take the right decision as soon as possible, release Ms. Meng and ensure her safe return to China, and create conditions for the return of bilateral relations to normal.