Canada’s Justin Trudeau attacks China for its ‘coercive diplomacy’ and vows to stand up to Beijing

Trudeau comments come as relations between Canada and China are severely strained

Justin Trudeau condemns China on 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties (Getty Images)

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has hit out over China’s “coercive diplomacy” on the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

Trudeau targeted Beijing on its aggressive tactics at home and outside,  claiming that China’s use of arbitrary arrests, repression in Hong Kong and detention camps for Muslim minorities is “not a particularly productive path".

Canada would remain, said Trudeau, “absolutely committed to working with our allies to ensure that China’s approach of coercive diplomacy, its arbitrary detention of two Canadian citizens alongside other citizens of other countries around the world is not viewed as a successful tactic by them".

He added that “a significant strain”  had been placed on China-Canada relations in recent years.

Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister François-Philippe Champagne also issued a separate statement, saying he is working on a new foreign-policy approach to Beijing. 

In response, Zhao Lijian, the spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry, accused the Canadian government had shown hypocrisy and weakness, according to Reuters.

Ties between the two countries deteriorated in December 2018 after Canadian police arrested Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of Chinese telecoms giant Huawei, on a US extradition warrant. 

In retaliation, China arrested two Canadians, including a former diplomat in 2018, who remain in prison.

Ms Meng is under house arrest in Vancouver. Beijing has been repeatedly saying that Canada must set her free before relations can improve.