Third Canadian detained in China, but PM Justin Trudeau doubts link to arrest of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou
- Canadian PM Justin Trudeau says the arrest doesn’t fit the pattern of other detentions, and he favours de-escalating tensions around Meng Wanzhou’s arrest
- Consular officials are assisting the latest detainee’s family, but Ottawa did not give further details of the case
Canadian consular officials are assisting a third citizen detained by Chinese authorities in the wake of Canada’s arrest of a Chinese tech executive – but Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the latest case doesn’t seem to the fit the pattern of the previous two.
Trudeau added that he favours de-escalating the tensions surrounding the arrest of Huawei chief financial officer Sabrina Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver on December 1.
Global Affairs Canada spokeswoman Maegan Graveline on Wednesday confirmed that the third Canadian national had been detained in China, without giving details of the person’s identity or the nature of the detention.
“Consular officials are providing assistance to the family. Due to the provisions under the Privacy Act, no further information can be disclosed,” Graveline said.
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Trudeau said in French it appears to be a routine case, not involving the sort of national security charges listed against the other two. He brought up the possibility of it being a visa issue.