OTTAWA – Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland says cutting corners to avoid arresting a Chinese executive at the request of the Americans simply was not an option to avoid a difficult political situation.
In an interview with The Canadian Press, Freeland says that would have eroded Canada’s commitment to the rule of law at a time when it is under threat across the globe.
READ MORE: What’s happened so far in the Canada-China-Huawei spat?
Some business leaders and analysts have suggested Canada should have found a way to circumvent its treaty obligations with the United States under the Extradition Act to avoid the current political turmoil with China and the U.S.
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Two Canadians have been detained in Beijing since the Dec. 1 arrest of Meng Wanzhou, the chief financial officer of Huawei Technologies, by the RCMP.
WATCH: Freeland says extradition process in Huawei case must remain apolitical
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Freeland says it is important that John McCallum, Canada’s ambassador to China, has been able to meet with entrepreneur Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, who is on a leave of absence from Global Affairs.
READ MORE: Canada’s ambassador to China meets with second detained Canadian Michael Spavor
But she says that is only a first-step in providing assistance to them and their families.
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