Canada’s PM seeks Ardern’s backing

China expert Anne-Marie Brady says New Zealand must join Canada in applying pressure on China amid an escalating diplomatic feud between the two.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Monday in a bid to shore up support for its condemnation of China’s recent diplomatic actions.

The pair discussed the legal treatment and detention of Canadian citizens in China, and the extradition case of a Huawei executive in Canada, according to Trudeau’s office.

Brady said Canada was calling on its allies for support, just as New Zealand would and had done in the past.

“United we stand, divided we fall. The New Zealand Government needs to stand with Canada on this issue . . . We must uphold our values-based foreign policy,” Brady said.

“China should respect other nations’ judicial procedure and rule of law, and . . . not use foreign citizens as pawns.”

Ardern was not available for comment but a spokeswoman for duty minister Grant Robertson confirmed Ardern had a brief conversation with Trudeau yesterday.

Trudeau has suggested China used its judicial system to pressure Canada over the arrest of Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of Chinese telco Huawei, who is also the daughter of Huawei’s founder.

This week a Canadian citizen in China was sentenced to death after he was convicted of drug smuggling.

Allies including the US, the European Union, France, Germany, Britain and Australia have supported Trudeau.