[Epoch Times, August 11, 2021](Epoch Times reporter Xu Jian comprehensive report) While Canada is conducting the final round of trial of Meng Wanzhou’s case, on August 11, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) confronted Canadian businessman Michael Spavor (Michael Spavor). After the heavy sentence for 11 years, the Canadian government strongly condemned the Chinese Communist Party for hostage retaliation. Diplomats from 25 countries in China gathered at the Canadian Embassy in China to support Canada.
On Wednesday (August 11), the Chinese Communist Party’s court sentenced Spaver to 11 years in prison for the so-called crime of “spying and illegally providing state secrets abroad.” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Canadian Ambassador to China both stated that they would not accept this unfair judgment.
On the same day, dozens of diplomats in China from 25 countries went to the Canadian Embassy in Beijing to show solidarity with Canada, including diplomats from the United States, Japan, Britain, Germany, France and Lithuania.
Canadian ambassador to China, Dominic Barton, mentioned the support of diplomats from 25 countries at a press conference outside the court. That is the whole world is paying attention (this case).”
He also relayed three messages to the public on behalf of Spaffer, “First, thank you for all your support, which is of great significance to me; second, I am in good spirits; third, I want to go home.”
In a statement, the US Embassy in China strongly condemned the CCP’s judgment against Spaffer, saying it was a “blatant attempt” by the CCP to use people as a “bargaining chip.”
US President Joe Biden expressed his support for the release of the two Canadians. At a joint press conference with Trudeau at the end of February, Biden condemned the Chinese authorities for “arbitrarily detaining” the two Canadians and reiterated that he stood firmly with Canada. Together, fight for their release.
In December 2018, Canada arrested Meng Wanzhou, a Huawei executive who had passed through the border, in response to a request for extradition from the United States. After that, China quickly arrested Canadian citizens Michael Kovrig and Spaffer in mainland China, which was considered by the outside world. It is “hostage diplomacy”, but the CCP has denied it.
Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau responded in a statement on August 11, stating that the CCP’s conviction and sentence of Spaffer was completely “unacceptable and unfair.” He said that the CCP’s trial lacked transparency in legal procedures and did not meet the minimum standards required by international law.
Trudeau also emphasized that whether it is Spaffer or Kovrig, Canada’s first task is still to try to help them be released.
Canadian Foreign Minister Marc Garneau also issued a statement saying that Canada condemned the CCP’s conviction and sentence of Spaffer in the strongest terms. He said that this decision lacked fair and transparent legal procedures.
In mid-February this year, Canada launched an initiative involving 58 countries to prevent some countries from detaining foreign citizens for diplomatic bargaining chips. The CCP expressed “strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition” to this.
Editor in charge: Lin Yan #
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