China repeats demand for Huawei executive´s release as Ottawa seeks replacement for McCallum
(The Star Toronto Raptors)

OTTAWA—None of our business.That’s how the Chinese government responded Monday to Justin Trudeau’s weekend firing of Ambassador John McCallum, with little official comment other than to denounce Canada’s ongoing detention of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou as politically motivated.Geng Shuang, a spokesman for China’s foreign ministry, called McCallum’s forced resignation on Friday evening a matter of “Canada`s domestic affairs and China has no comment on it.�Trudeau demanded McCallum’s resignation Friday after he ignored a warning from the prime minister mid-week and repeated the mistake of talking publicly about the extradition case and how the plight of two Canadians detained by China in retaliation could be resolved via a deal between the U.S. and China.Geng, according to a transcript posted on the Chinese ministry’s website, told reporters at a briefing in Beijing, “I want to point out that the Meng Wanzhou case is definitely not a pure judicial case.“There are strong political motives and maneuverings behind it,� he said. “The Chinese people and the international community know that very well.Read more:John McCallum’s resignation underscores risks of appointing politicians to dipomatic missions, former ambassadors sayAmbassador John McCallum says it would be ‘great for Canada’ if U.S. drops extradition request for Huawei’s Meng WanzhouTrudeau sought U.S. help to release two Canadians after Trump hinted he might use Meng’s extradition as a bargaining chip, official says“We once again urge the Canadian side to make the right choice, immediately release Ms. Meng.�Meng is wanted by the U.S. on fraud charges connected with an alleged scheme to deceive multinational banks over Huawei’s ties to a company doing business in Iran, in violation of U.S. sanctions.She is chief financial officer and deputy chair of China’s corporate darl ...