China warns Canada against granting asylum to Hong Kong activists, gets strong response

China has warned Cana against granting asylum to Hong Kong pro-democracy activists, ding that it could jeopardise “health and safety” of Canians living in semi-automous region. During a video conference, Chinese Ambassor to Ottawa, Cong Peiwu, urged Cana to t grant political asylum to “violent criminals”. He ded that such asylum amounts to interference in China's domestic affairs and will embolden those “criminals.”

"So if Canian side really cares about stability and prosperity in Hong Kong, and really cares about good health and safety of those 300,000 Canian passport-holders in Hong Kong...you should support those efforts to fight violent crimes," Cong said.

strained relationship between China and Cana after arrest of Huawei CFO has furr deteriorated over Cana’s decision to grant refugee status of a Hong Kong couple who participated in pro-democracy protests last year. Cana h also accused China of engaging in “coercive diplomacy” by keeping two Canian men host.

warning triggered a strong response from Cana's Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne, describing remark as "totally unacceptable and disturbing". In a statement carried by Canian news outlets, Champagne said that he has instructed Global Affairs to summon ambassor to make clear that Cana will always stand up for human rights. 

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'Coercive diplomacy'

Earlier this week, Canian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that he would fight China’s “coercive diplomacy”, ding that arbitrary arrests, human rights violation in Hong Kong and Xinjiang are t “particularly productive path.” China’s envoy to Ottawa, Cong Peiwu, dismissed claims, saying Canian citizens have been prosecuted because of suspected activities which endangers China’s national security. 

“re’s coercive diplomacy on Chinese side,” said Cong told video news conference.

Chinese envoy furr said that arrests of Spavor and Kovrig were unrelated and accused Cana of using “coercive measures” by arresting Huawei executive as “she was breaking Canian law at all.” He called for immediate release of Meng “to create conditions to bring Cana-China relations back on right track.”

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(With ANI inputs)