Meng Wanzhou Photo:VCG

The Chinese Embassy in Canada slammed Canadian media for misrepresenting statements made by Michael Kovrig's wife as those of a Chinese spokesperson, and for claiming China had linked Meng Wanzhou's case to those of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor. 

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson quoted statements by Kovrig's wife in his remarks on June 24, but Canadian media deliberately reported these remarks as a spokesperson's statement, and claimed China had linked Meng's case to those of Kovrig and Spavor, the Chinese Embassy in Canada said in a statement on Saturday.

Such actions seriously mislead the public and violate professional ethics, the embassy said.

Meng's case was a serious political incident masterminded by the US to suppress Huawei and Chinese high-tech companies. Canada is acting as an accomplice of the US, and this is an arbitrary detention. Meng's case is different from those of Kovrig and Spavor, the embassy said. 

In an article titled "Michael Kovrig's wife says Canada 'needs more leverage' in fight for his release," Canadian media Global News asserted China had linked Meng's case to Kovrig's. 

Another Canadian media outfit, The Globe and Mail, fabricated events in the headline "China suggests it will free Kovrig and Spavor if Canada allows Huawei executive Meng to return home" in a report on June 24. 

It incorrectly interpreted comments made by Kovrig's wife as China's stance, writing, "The Chinese government says that if Canada sets Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou free it could affect the fate of two Canadians jailed and charged with espionage by Beijing." 

At a press conference on June 24, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian quoted what Kovrig's wife had said, and did not link Meng to the cases of Kovrig and Spavor. 

"With regard to Meng's case, China's position is clear: It was a serious political incident. Even if it is a judicial case, as the Canadian side claims, the Canadian justice minister has the authority to stop the extradition process at any point, as Kovrig's wife said," Zhao said. 

Canadian media deliberately distorted the facts by making reports that cater to the Canadian government, which wrongly assumes China, using the cases of Kovrig and Spavor, is retaliating against Canada for the arrest of Meng, Wang Yiwei, the director of the institute of international affairs at Renmin University of China in Beijing, told the Global Times. 

While restricted by the US in diplomacy and security, Canada is reluctant to make its own decisions on Meng's case. However, in turn, Canada acts like the victim, Wang said. 

Chinese observers slammed the irresponsible Canadian media for distorting the facts, which has fueled frosty China-Canada ties.  

The Chinese Embassy in Canada in its statement urged Canada to take China's solemn position seriously, respect the rule of law and China's judicial sovereignty, stop making irresponsible remarks on the cases of Kovrig and Spavor, and stop pressuring China through "microphone diplomacy."

The two Canadian defendants were recently prosecuted by Chinese authorities. The facts are clear, the evidence is genuine and sufficient, and there has been no "arbitrary detention," the embassy said. 

Canada should reflect on its own mistakes in Meng's case, cease political manipulation, immediately release Meng and allow her to return to China safely, the embassy said.