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China’s new ambassador to Canada said the Trudeau government should avoid weighing in on the ongoing protests in Hong Kong.

The new ambassador, Cong Peiwu, also said the formal charges against two Canadians detained for months and stressed their case has no connection to the case of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou.

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Cong outlined the formal charges against Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor during a meeting with reporters Friday. Kovrig, has been charged with secretly gathering state secrets and intelligence for foreign forces. Spavor has been charged with stealing and illegally providing state secrets to foreign forces.

“The nature is the same. It is endangering Chinese national security,” said Cong.

Cong arrived in Canada in September and presented his credentials to Governor General Julie Payette earlier this month.

Photo by Lindsey Wasson/Reuters

Meng was arrested on a U.S. extradition request almost a year ago. She has been released on bail while the request makes its way through the courts. She can live at one of two Vancouver-area mansions, but must wear an electronic monitoring ankle bracelet.