VANCOUVER—After his earlier comments on Meng Wanzhou drew calls for his firing, Canada’s ambassador to China is now arguing it would be “great” if the United States relinquishes its attempt to extradite Huawei’s chief financial officer.

“From Canada’s point of view, if (the U.S.) drops the extradition request, that would be great for Canada,” John McCallum told the Star on Friday.

The Star’s reporter, speaking to McCallum at a charity lunch in downtown Vancouver, identified herself as a journalist at the beginning of the conversation and held out a recorder while they spoke.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Wednesday he is standing by the ambassador, in spite of Conservative calls for McCallum to be fired for saying Huawei’s Meng has “strong arguments” to fight extradition to the United States.

In a series of surprisingly frank comments earlier this week, McCallum also revealed new details about the strain on Canada-China relations and the pressure Canada faces from allies to ban Huawei.

McCallum apologized late Thursday for several of his remarks, saying he “misspoke” when he said Meng had strong arguments to fight extradition, but he did not reference or walk back all his comments.

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He told the Star on Friday that if the U.S. strikes a deal with China, it should benefit Canada.

“We have to make sure that if the U.S. does such a deal, it also includes the release of our two people. And the U.S. is highly aware of that,” he said.

The Prime Minister’s Office did not reply to Star requests for comment.

Roland Paris, former senior adviser to Trudeau on global affairs, told the Star that Canadians should not be used as “bargaining chips.”

“I don’t have a comment on that scenario,” he said when asked for his thoughts on McCallum’s most recent comments.

“I think though that it remains really important for Canada, it is very important for Canada to build international support,” he said.

“The Chinese should not be holding any Canadians for diplomatic leverage, if that’s indeed what they’re doing. And the United States should be backing Canada, should have Canada’s back because we are paying a price for fulfilling the terms of our extradition treaty.”

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Former diplomat Michael Kovrig and entrepreneur Michael Spavor remain in custody at undisclosed locations in China. Kovrig is being kept in a continuously lit room and is being questioned several times daily by Chinese authorities, according to the International Crisis Group (ICG), Kovrig’s former employer.

The ambassador stressed to the Star Friday that his “priority is to see our two detainees” after he returns to China on Saturday.

McCallum told the Star he is allowed to visit Kovrig and Spavor once a month.

“Physically he’s fine, by looking at him,” McCallum said about Kovrig. He added both men are able to exercise and practice yoga regularly.

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