As Canada moves forward with the extradition of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou, the Chinese government is questioning the country鈥檚 commitment to the rule of law.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has previously cited the rule of law as the reason he鈥檚 unable to interfere in Meng's case, saying that the government 鈥渞espects the independence鈥� of the judicial process.
But following Jody Wilson-Raybould鈥檚 stunning testimony Wednesday alleging that high-level government officials pressured the then-attorney general to intervene in the case of SNC-Lavalin, the Chinese government is using the case to underscore its criticisms.
Chinese Foreign Affairs spokesman Lu Kang was questioned about the SNC-Lavalin case by a state media journalist in Beijing and asked whether it was contradictory for Trudeau to say that his government couldn鈥檛 step in for Meng.
Kang said he liked the journalist鈥檚 question and said Canadians are paying attention to the issue.
鈥淣ow, in fact, not only Chinese and Canadian citizens, but the whole world is extremely interested to hear how the Canadian government answers this," Kang said.
Chinese authorities have previously called on Canada to release Meng, who they say is being held as a political bargaining chip in America鈥檚 trade war with China.
It鈥檚 a sentiment that鈥檚 been echoed by the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa, who said they鈥檙e 鈥渦tterly dissatisfied鈥� with the government鈥檚 decision to proceed with the extradition.
鈥淭his is not a merely judicial case, but a political persecution against a Chinese high-tech enterprise,鈥� the embassy said in a statement.
鈥淭he so-called 鈥榬ule of law鈥� and 鈥榡udicial independence鈥� asserted by Canada can not cover up the mistakes made by the Canadian side on the case of Meng Wanzhou.鈥�
Trudeau has denied allegations that his office improperly pressured Raybould to act. But Lynette Ong, an associate professor of political science at the University of Toronto focusing on China, says the damage is already done.
鈥淭he Chinese authorities see Canada as applying a double standard,鈥� Ong told CTV News. 鈥淚 think the Trudeau government has lost quite a bit of legitimacy.鈥�
Meng was arrested in Vancouver in December at the request of U.S. authorities, who later charged both her and Huawei with fraud over alleged efforts to violate U.S. sanctions against Iran.
The arrest is believed to have prompted the detention of several Canadians in China. Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor remain in China with limited consular visits.
Experts say the latest development is unlikely to help the government鈥檚 chances of freeing them.
鈥淚t鈥檚 quid pro quo, that鈥檚 basically what China is saying,鈥� said extradition expert Gary Botting. 鈥淲e have your guys and you have ours. Release her and we鈥檒l release them 鈥� it鈥檚 that simple.鈥�
Meng is scheduled to appear in court next week, beginning the possibly months-long process of deciding whether she will be sent to the U.S. for trial.
鈥淭he final result of the Canadian court to handle this case will be a touchstone for testing whether Canada adheres to the judicial independence or not,鈥� the Chinese embassy said. 鈥淲e will wait and see.鈥�
With a report from CTV's Annie Bergeron-Oliver
