We have noted that on February 15, the Canadian side issued the so-called Declaration Against Arbitrary Detention with some other countries, and deliberately arranged someone from the Human Rights Watch to accuse China of "arbitrary detention" of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor at the launch of the Declaration, which is totally fact-distorting and ill-intentioned. The Chinese side expresses its strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition over this.

As is well known to all that the Meng Wanzhou case is a completely political incident. Canada has arbitrarily detained Ms. Meng Wanzhou, an innocent Chinese citizen who violates no Canadian law at all, for over two years. By doing so, the Canadian side has grossly trampled the legitimate rights and interests of the Chinese citizen, which is arbitrary detention in every sense of the term. One the one hand, the Canadian side claims that it upholds the rule of law and opposes arbitrary detention. On the other hand, it acts as an accomplice of the US, and helps the US to use Meng Wanzhou as a bargaining chip to oppress Chinese enterprises. This kind of act is no different from a thief shouting to catch a thief.

I would like to stress once again that China is a country with rule of law. Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor were arrested and prosecuted by competent authorities of China in accordance with law for suspected crimes undermining China's national security. Chinese judicial organs handle the cases independently according to law and their lawful rights have been guaranteed. The Canadian side's attempt to pressure China by using "Megaphone Diplomacy" or ganging up is totally futile.