OTTAWA (AFP) – Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Saturday said he had sought and accepted the resignation of Ottawa’s ambassador to China, days after the diplomat sparked controversy with criticism of the US extradition request for a top Huawei executive.
“Last night I asked for and accepted John McCallum’s resignation as Canada’s Ambassador to China,” Trudeau said in a statement that did not explain why the decision had been taken.
McCallum has been making headlines in recent days over comments regarding Meng Wanzhou, Chinese giant Huawei’s chief financial officer who was arrested in Vancouver on Dec. 1 and is facing extradition to the United States.
Accused of fraud linked to violations of American sanctions on Iran, she is out on bail, but her arrest has sparked an escalating diplomatic crisis between Ottawa and Beijing.
McCallum briefed lawmakers Tuesday on the plight of two Canadians detained in China and a third placed on Death Row in what are widely seen as retaliatory moves by Beijing.
After the briefing, he told Chinese-language media in Markham, Ontario that he believed the US extradition request was seriously flawed.
He cited political comments on the case by US President Donald Trump, the “extraterritorial aspect” of Meng’s case, and the fact that Canada did not sign on to the Iran sanctions that Washington wants her extradited for.