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OTTAWA — Canada and its Western allies’ calls for the release of two Canadians detained in China are rooted in white supremacy, the Chinese ambassador said in a published op-ed Wednesday.

Experts and analysts say the harsh language from the Chinese government’s representative indicates the raw nerve that Canada has touched within the communist government with its efforts to recruit international support for its detainees.

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The U.S State Department has called for the release of Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, while Germany, France, Britain, the European Union and Australia have also issued supportive statements.

In an essay in the Hill Times, which covers Parliament and the federal government, Ambassador Lu Shaye questioned whether countries such as the U.S. and Britain are truly representative of the international community and he reiterated his government’s assertion that Western countries are employing a “double standard” in judging his country.