Justin Trudeau has accused Beijing of using “arbitrary detentions” as a tool in pursuit of political goals in the latest broadside in a diplomatic and trade row with China.

“Using arbitrary detention as a tool to achieve political goals, international or domestic, is something that is of concern not just to Canada but to all our allies,” Trudeau told the Toronto Star editorial board.

He said nations including Britain, France, Germany and the United States “have been highlighting that this is not acceptable behaviour in the international community because they are all worried about China engaging in the same kinds of pressure tactics with them”.

Canada’s relations with China soured after its arrest of Chinese Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou on a US warrant last December.

Nine days later, Beijing detained two Canadians – former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor – and accused them of espionage in a move widely viewed as retaliation.

They are among a string of foreign nationals arrested in China and charged with espionage or attempting to steal state secrets.

Trudeau added that “we need to figure out how to engage with them, but we also have to be clear-eyed about it, that China plays by a very different set of rules and principles than we do in the west”.

His comments may further inflame tensions between the two countries, which had appeared to be trying to move on from the row. This week both Beijing and Ottawa nominated new ambassadors, although a spokesman for the Chinese foreign minstry this week urged Canada to “reflect on its mistakes” and immediately release Meng.

“At present, China-Canada relations are facing serious difficulties,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a daily briefing.

Geng said China hopes the new Canadian envoy Dominic Barton can play an active role in returning ties to a “normal track”.

The previous Canadian ambassador, John McCallum, was fired in January after he said it would be “great” if the US dropped its extradition request for the Huawei executive. She is wanted by the US on fraud charges and is currently out on bail in Vancouver and living in her multimillion-dollar home awaiting extradition proceedings.