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Analysts have said the detentions are likely retaliatory measures taken by China after Canada took into custody Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of Chinese tech giant Huawei, on behalf of the United States, where she is wanted on fraud allegations.

In her statement, Freeland defended Meng’s arrest and said Canada was a country governed by the rule of law and that it was conducting a “fair, unbiased and transparent” legal proceeding concerning Meng.

“Canada respects its international legal commitments, including by honouring its extradition treaty with the United States. The rule of law is fundamental to all free societies; we will defend and uphold the principle,” she wrote.

“We share with our partners the conviction that the rule of law is not a choice: it is the bedrock of democracy. Canada will not compromise nor politicize the rule of law and due process.”

Photo by WANG Zhao / AFP

David Mulroney, Canada’s former ambassador to China, said in an email Freeland’s comments were necessary “given what we know about the conditions facing detainees in China and given the continuing aggressive tone taken by the Chinese government and its state controlled media when it comes to Canada and, by implication, Canadians.”

“China doesn’t hesitate to use blunt talk with its partners, and nor should we, especially when the health and safety of our fellow Canadians are concerned,” he wrote.

In a show of solidarity, British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt issued a statement expressing confidence that Canada was “conducting a fair and transparent legal proceeding with respect to Ms. Meng Wanzhou.”