Marise Payne pressured over Canadians’ detention in China

Marise Payne pressured to denounce China’s detention of Canadian pair as Australia is increasingly isolated by silence.

Australia’s Foreign Minister, Marise Payne. Picture: Alan Barber

Marise Payne is under pressure to speak up about the detention of two Canadian citizens after Australia became increasingly isolated by its silence on the issue among US allies.

A group of thirty scholars, foreign policy experts and former diplomats have signed a petition calling for the foreign minister to make a statement.

“Since December 21, the European Union, United States, United Kingdom, Germany and France have each issued statements of concern regarding the apparently political motivation for the arrests of these Canadian citizens, which raise serious concerns about legitimate research and business practices in China. It is time for Australia to do the same,” the scholars said.

“In view of the risks this raises to Australian research and business activities that form the bedrock of positive Australia-China relations, we respectfully ask you to join the above-mentioned governments in supporting the Canadian government’s call for the immediate release of these two detainees.”

Michael Kovrig is one of two Canadian citizens detained in China. Picture: AP

China detained Canadian citizens Michael Kovrig, a former diplomat and think tank researcher, and Michael Spavor, an entrepreneur, in the days after the arrest in Vancouver of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou.

The US has been keen to extradite Ms Meng to America to face accusations of the company breaking sanctions against Iran.

So far the EU, the US, the UK, Germany and France have all released statements supporting Canada or expressing concern over the two men.

Senator Payne told The Australian on December 17 she was declining to comment on the case.

Meng Wanzhou. Picture: AFP

In contrast the UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt released a statement on December 21 which said he supported Canada’s position and suggested the two Canadian men were detained for political reasons to pressure Ottawa.

“The UK has confidence Canada is conducting a fair and transparent legal proceeding with respect to Ms. Meng Wanzhou, the Chief Financial Officer of Huawei, respecting the international legal commitments in its extradition treaty with the United States,” Mr Hunt said.

“The UK and Canada share a commitment to the rule of law, which is fundamental to all free societies.”

“I am deeply concerned by suggestions of a political motivation for the detention of two Canadian citizens by the Chinese government. I call for them to be treated in a fair, unbiased and transparent manner.”

The scholars include the Lowy Institute’s Richard McGregor, Rory Medcalf, Geremie R Barmé and John Blaxland from the Australian National University, and Linda Jakobson from China Matters which advises government.

“Some Australians might think that this is not our problem, but the same thing could happen to Australians in China if bilateral relations deteriorated,” Mr McGregor said.

“We should support Canada out of principle but also self-interest, because he might need their support one day as well.”