China and Canada Photo: VCG

China has always been opposed to all forms of power politics and has never feared any coercion, and the government's stance on safeguarding its citizens' legitimate rights and interests remains unflinching and uncompromising, said Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday, who also urged Canada to "keep its eyes wide open" and adopt a "rational and pragmatic" policy toward China.

Wang made the remarks during a phone conversation with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Felix Plasencia when referring to the case of Meng Wanzhou, who was released on Saturday after being illegally detained for nearly three years in Canada. 

Those practices to randomly detain citizens of other countries out of political motives and by fabricating various excuses are out-and-out coercion and bullying, and a flagrant challenge against international rules and human conscience, which should not be allowed to run wild in the 21st century, he said. 

Hua Chunying, spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a press briefing on Monday that Meng's case is a political fabrication and persecution targeting a Chinese citizen and is aimed at suppressing Chinese high-tech enterprises represented by Huawei. 

She also pointed out that Meng's case is completely different from that of the two Canadians, Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig. 

Chinese experts said Canada's illegal detainment of Meng has dragged China-Canada relations to freezing point and urged the Trudeau administration many times to correct its mistake. Meng's release was believed to help ease frosty China-Canada ties.

China hopes Canada can "keep its eyes wide open," recognize the situation and adopt a "rational and pragmatic" policy toward China, Hua noted at the meeting.

"We always believe that relations between countries can only be developed on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit. China-Canada relations are no exception," said Hua.

Hua's remarks are a response to Canadian Foreign Minister Marc Garneau's comment on Sunday on China-Canada relations. 

Garneau said Canada's "eyes are wide open" when it comes to normalizing its relations with China, and that Canada is now following a four-fold approach to China - "coexist," "compete," "co-operate," and "challenge," according to CBC News.  

Global Times