Diplomat blasts Canadian officials,
VANCOUVER— China’s top diplomat in Vancouver raked Canadian officials over the coals on Sunday during a “lengthy” and “awkward” speech about the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou, according to Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart.
In an interview on Monday, the mayor said he and other dignitaries — including Canada’s defence minister — were attending an event hosted by the 122-year-old Chinese Benevolent Association of Vancouver when Chinese consulgeneral Tong Xiaoling tore into the arrest and U.S. extradition proceedings. “She made a long speech about how this is outrageous,” Stewart told StarMetro. “Which was really quite awkward because (defence minister) Harjit Sajjan was there as well. (She) firmly denounced the ministry.
“This was a long speech — but it’s more for the bosses back home, I would think.”
Vancouver city councillor Pete Fry, one of several local politicians attending the annual Christmas event, told StarMetro her English and Cantonese address contained “stern language, stern words, assert- ing their displeasure.”
The mayor said he spoke with Tong at the event, describing his first interaction with her as cordial and unrelated to the high-profile incident that has drawn international attention to Vancouver’s courthouse. Kennedy said as a former member of Parliament who sat on the justice subcommittee as well as several national-security reviews, he has “confidence” in Ottawa’s handling of the file.
He said he has scheduled a meeting with Tong on Thursday, but while he hopes to establish a warm relationship he’s “sure it will come up.”
“I had a good chat with her last night about other things,” Stewart said. “I’ll continue to engage ... It is an important trading partner.”