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China’s ambassador warns Canadians to get ready for retaliation

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close This copy is for your personal non-commercial use only. To orderpresentation-ready copies of Toronto Star content for distributionto colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire aboutpermissions/licensing, please go to: OTTAWA—China’s ambassador to Canada said Canadians should prepare for retaliation after Ottawa protested the Asian nation’s .In an exclusive interview with the Star, Ambassador Cong Peiwu accused the Liberal government of “interfering in China’s internal affairs” by suspending the Canada-Hong Kong extradition treaty and stopping military and “dual-use” exports to the city.Cong was reiterating and reinforcing the official line from Beijing. On Monday, a spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry condemned the Canadian response, “reserved the right to further react,” and warned Canada would “bear the consequences.”“I’d like to suggest you just wait and see,” Cong said when asked what specific “consequences” Beijing was contemplating.“As I have told you, we are resolute in safeguarding our national security and sovereignty. We will not just sit idly by.”It was another in a growing list of warnings and retaliatory actions made against Canada by the Chinese government, which is facing international condemnation for a draconian new national security law imposed on Hong Kong. The new law, which came into effect last week, gives Beijing more power to silence political dissent, as well as limit the activities of non-governmental organizations, media and foreign governments in Hong Kong.The Canadian government condemned the crackdown, and on Friday announced it was suspending its extradition agreement with Hong Kong, as well as military or “dual use” exports — such as equipment used by police to quell pro-democracy demonstrations in the city.Canada’s foreign affairs minister, François-Philippe Champagne, has accused the Chinese government of “coercive diplomacy” and “arbitrary detention” — a reference to , two Canadians who have languished in Chinese detention for more than 570 days and are now facing espionage charges. In a move widely seen as retaliation, they were detained by Chinese authorities just days after Canadian police arrested in December 2018.But Beijing’s aggressive diplomatic posture is yielding diminishing returns, according to Margaret McCuaig-Johnston, a University of Ottawa professor and former civil servant who worked on Canada-China relations.McCuaig-Johnston said China has taken a similar approach with Canada’s allies — including the U.K., U.S., France, Germany, and others — trying to mute criticism on everything from human rights to Huawei to Hong Kong.“I think they are overplaying their hand,” McCuaig-Johnston said in an interview.“Western countries are not amused by these kinds of threats. That’s why some of the threats are very specific, like threats to Germany’s auto industry if they don’t (allow) Huawei (into 5G networks), threats to stop work on building nuclear reactors and high-speed rail systems in the U.K.”“For countries like Canada, there are quite a few ways they can hurt us — through their companies, by kidnapping our citizens … but I think Canada and other countries are working more closely together to collaborate on common approaches,” McCuaig-Johnston said.Champagne told the Star in an interview Friday that Ottawa is working on a new “framework” for Canada-China relations based on “clear rules and standards,” “Canadian interests,” and “values and principles including human rights.”But and his government have repeatedly said that is their top priority.Detained shortly after Meng’s arrest, the two were held without charges for more than a year. In June, Chinese authorities announced both men would be charged with stealing state secrets.Meng faces possible extradition to the United States, where the high-powered telecom executive is wanted on fraud charges.On Tuesday, Cong repeated lines from the Chinese government suggesting the “facts” of the cases against Kovrig and Spavor were clear — despite Chinese authorities releasing almost no “facts” about what the two men are alleged to have done.Kovrig and Spavor’s extended detention — it could still be years before they face trial — has led some prominent Canadian political figures and legal thinkers to argue that Canada should engage in a “prisoner swap:” the two Michaels for Meng. Others, including Canada’s former ambassador to China, David Mulroney, have argued that would encourage more “hostage diplomacy” from Beijing.Asked repeatedly about the issue Tuesday, Cong kept returning to what China views as the “political” nature of the fraud charges against Meng.“So my suggestion and my hope is that the Canadian side will reflect on its policy and it will take measures to correct the political decision (and) release Meng as soon as possible,” Cong said.“Because we believe that is the main obstacle in our bilateral relationship. And so that means we can bring our relations back on track.”When asked if Canadians should take that to mean releasing Meng would put an end to China’s retaliatory actions, Cong said: “if Canada takes the measures to remove the main obstacle, the Meng case, it helps our relationship to be back on track, and that’s conducive to the great potential of our co-operation.” Read more about: Copyright owned or licensed by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. Allrights reserved. Republication or distribution of this content isexpressly prohibited without the prior written consent of TorontoStar Newspapers Limited and/or its licensors. To order copies ofToronto Star articles, please go to:

close This copy is for your personal non-commercial use only. To orderpresentation-ready copies of Toronto Star content for distributionto colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire aboutpermissions/licensing, please go to: OTTAWA—China’s ambassador to Canada said Canadians should prepare for retaliation after Ottawa protested the Asian nation’s .In an exclusive interview with the Star, Ambassador Cong Peiwu accused the Liberal government of “interfering in China’s internal affairs” by suspending the Canada-Hong Kong extradition treaty and stopping military and “dual-use” exports to the...

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China’s ambassador warns Canadians to get ready for retaliation

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