Toronto, Ontario (CU)_Canada’s envoy to China has been summoned home for strategic consultations concerning “sensitive issues” with China, including the trials of the two Canadians detained in Beijing.
Ambassador Dominic Barton was recalled by Ottawa as Canada joined the US, the EU and Britain on Monday (22 March), in imposing sanctions on officials in China over human rights abuses in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
The coordinated measures are said to be a show of international unity in denouncing what has been labelled as “state-sanctioned genocide” of Uyghur Muslim people in the region.
Meanwhile, sources have said that Barton was brought home from Beijing for important strategic meetings on how Ottawa should deal with issues concerning China, although no further details were revealed.
The ambassador’s return also provides greater ease in conducting secure private conversations between Canadian officials, which would have been more difficult in Beijing where spy agencies monitor diplomats.
According to government officials, Barton’s return to Canada was arranged before Ottawa learned that Beijing has set dates for the trials of the two men.
They have revealed that the federal government is attempting to develop a clear foreign policy toward China, which is aligned across government departments and focused on collaboration with the United States and other allies.
The official referred to the show of solidarity by diplomats from 23 countries, who were present at Michael Kovrig’s hearing in Beijing on Monday, as an example of how Ottawa intends to build alliances to confront China.
While the purpose of the development of a renewed foreign policy is to take a hard look at Beijing’s conduct in the international arena, however, the No. 1 objective is to secure the release of the two Canadians.
The Trudeau government is hoping that US President Joe Biden’s proposed reset of relations between Washington and Beijing may pave the way for the release of the pair. Last month, during a virtual meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the US President pledged to work for the safe return of the two Canadians, saying “human beings are not bargaining chips”.
