China slams UK, EU ‘dual standards’ on row with Canada

China has slammed the United Kingdom and the European Union for adopting a double-standard approach towards the issue of human rights, saying the Westerners voice concerns over Beijing's detention of Canadians while remaining silent on the case of a Chinese national arrested in the North American state.

Speaking at a news briefing on Monday, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying expressed Beijing's “strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition” to comments by Canada, the United States and others on the detained Canadians.

Two Canadians were detained in China earlier this month for what Beijing called engaging in activities that “endanger China’s security.” A third Canadian is also being held, pending deportation for working illegally in the Asian country.

The arrests came after Canadian police detained China’s Huawei Technologies Co Ltd’s chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, on December 1 in Vancouver, Canada.

On Saturday, Ottawa said it will maintain a high-level campaign in the coming days to seek support from allies as it pressures China to free the two detained Canadians.

The US, Britain and the European Union have expressed support for Canada over the arrests.

Hua went on to say that the three Canadians stand accused of endangering state security so they are “of course” being detained, adding, “We urge relevant countries to earnestly respect China’s judicial sovereignty.”

She described the support of Britain and the European Union for Canada as “strange” and exclaimed, “What’s this got to do with Britain and the EU?”

“When the Canadians illegally detained a senior executive at a Chinese company at the request of the United States, where were they?” she said. “Their so-called human rights have different standards for different countries’ citizens.”

SS