China criticizes UK, EU for supporting Canadians
591 views · Published 29 December 2018 · 1:23 · Indexed 6 October 2026
Channel: AP Archive · 2018 · News & Politics
(24 Dec 2018) Beijing lashed out on Monday after statements were issued by Canada's allies calling for the release of Canadian citizens held in China. Hua Chunying, spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, accused the United Kingdom and the European Union of having inconsistent human rights standards that vary depending on nationality. Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland says she spoke to China's ambassador to Ottawa on Friday and made Canada's first demand for the immediate release of ex-diplomat Michael Kovrig and entrepreneur Michael Spavor. But Hua questioned whether the detentions - in apparent retaliation for the arrest of a top Chinese tech executive - had anything to do with Canada's allies. Hua asked for the immediate release of Meng Wanzhou, the chief financial officer of Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei, who was arrested while changing planes in Vancouver on 1 December at the request of the United States. Separately, Hua said China hopes the parties involved in talks on the Korean Peninsula will "advance the process of denuclearisation and establishment of peace." The Trump administration's special envoy for North Korea on Friday expressed optimism about the diplomatic push to resolve the nuclear crisis. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/062ec1be4365cedbc5c421e3dde288bc
