Q1: What expectations do you have for the future Canadian government regarding the Meng case?

A: August 26 marks the 1000th day of Ms. Meng Wanzhou’s groundless and arbitrary detention by Canada since December 1, 2018.

From the very beginning, China has repeatedly pointed out that the case of Meng Wanzhou is purely a political incident. The US government's request for the extradition of Meng Wanzhou from Canada is in essence an abuse of legal procedures to suppress Chinese hi-tech companies and obstruct the development of Chinese science and technology. China will never accept any form of political coercion or abuse of justice, and will never allow Chinese citizens to become victims of political persecution of another country. The Chinese government is determined to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens and enterprises. Any attempt to bully or oppress the Chinese people will inevitably be met with strong fightback.

The Canadian side, ignoring the US' political agenda and the fact that Ms. Meng had not violated any Canadian law, has groundlessly detained Ms. Meng for over 1000 days. Canada has played as an accomplice for the US' political persecution against a Chinese citizen and aroused strong indignation from the Chinese people.

We have noticed that more and more people have realized that the essence of the Meng Wanzhou incident is purely political, illegal, and injustice. China’s Global Times published an open letter to the Canadian ambassador to China and launched an online petition. Nearly 15 million people have added their names to the letter. This is China's public opinion. many Canadians with vision have been calling on the Canadian government to end the extradition process of Ms. Meng Wanzhou in accordance with Canada's Extradition Act.

We urge the Canadian government to face up to the political nature of the incident and the solemn position of China, listen to the public opinion of Chinese people and the voice of justice from all sides, respect their common desire of steering China-Canada relations back on track, recognize and correct its mistakes and release Ms. Meng Wanzhou and ensure her early and safe return to China.

Q2: Two Canadians were detained in China soon after Meng’s detention. Is their detention related to Meng’s case? China recently issued verdicts in the case of the Canadian defendant Schellenberg and Michael Spavor. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Foreign Minister Marc Garneau both made statements regarding the two verdicts. What's your comment?

A: The nature of the two Canadian citizens’ cases is completely different from the Meng Wanzhou incident. The two Canadians were arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law for suspected crimes of endangering China's national security, while Meng Wanzhou has been arbitrarily detained for over 1000 days while she did nothing that violates the Canadian law. Meng’s detention is a political incident concocted by the United States, and Canada has acted as an accomplice.

Michael Spavor was prosecuted and found guilty of secretly gathering state secrets and illegally providing state secrets to foreign forces. Schellenberg was involved in organized international drug trafficking and conspired with others to smuggle a huge quantity of 222.035 kg of methamphetamine, which constituted drug smuggling, and he is a prime culprit. Recently, relevant Chinese courts have pronounced the judgments in public in accordance with law after hearing the cases and ascertaining the criminal facts. All legal rights of these individuals including consular visit have been fully guaranteed.

China is a country with the rule of law. The judicial authorities handle all cases strictly based on facts and in accordance with law. The nationality of criminals cannot be used as "amulets", and will neither be their "death lock".

The Canadian side’s unwarranted remarks on the verdicts of the two Canadians by the Chinese Courts are gross interference in China's judicial sovereignty and serious violation of the basic norms of international relations and international law. Canada’s accusations against China are unreasonable, absurd, and arrogant. We express indignation and strong condemnation over this.

Canada claims to be a champion of the "rule of law" and "judicial independence", so it should put aside its "double standards", stop politicizing legal issues, uphold the spirit of the rule of law that everyone is equal before the law, and fully respect the handling of cases by Chinese judicial authorities independently in accordance with the law.