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WORLD NEWS Tuesday 20 OcTOber 2020
Canada-China spat heats up over ambassador's alleged threat

By ROB GILLIES Canada Hong Kong, a
Associated Press group that advocates for
TORONTO (AP) — The diplo- Hong Kong's pro-democ-
matic spat between Can- racy movement, called
ada and China grew more Cong's comment a "direct
heated on Monday as Bei- threat" to all Canadians.
jing denounced press criti- "It should not be lost on Ca-
cism of its ambassador to nadians living in Hong Kong
Ottawa, only to have Can- or China, they could be
ada's deputy prime minis- next. Ambassador Cong
ter and opposition leader suggested so himself,"
echo the criticism. Wong said.
The exchange comes at Protests against the Hong
a moment when ties be- Kong and mainland Chi-
tween the countries are at nese governments swelled
their lowest point in years, last year, and Beijing
largely due to China' out- clamped down on expres-
rage over Canada's de- sions of anti-government
tention of a top executive sentiment in the city with a
of Chinese telecoms giant new national security law
Huawei and the subse- that took effect June 30.
quent arrest of two Canadi- The law outlaws subversive,
ans. The new friction arose secessionist and terrorist
when China's ambassador Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrives to a press conference to discuss the COVID-19 activity, as well as collusion
to Canada, Cong Peiwu, pandemic in Ottawa, Ontario, on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020. with foreign powers to in-
branded pro-democracy Associated Press terfere in the city's internal
protesters in Hong Kong as in a video news confer- ing in Hong Kong. "Let me China." affairs. The U.S., Britain and
violent criminals and said if ence from the Chinese Em- also reassure the 300,000 He didn't specify the media Canada accuse China of
Canada grants them asy- bassy in Ottawa. Asked if Canadians in Hong Kong criticism, but the Toronto infringing on the city's free-
lum it would amount to in- his remarks amounted to a that a Canadian is a Cana- Sun on Saturday published doms.
terference in China's inter- threat, Cong replied, "That dian and we will stand with an editorial calling on Cong Cong also rejected Cana-
nal affairs. is your interpretation." them." Freeland said. to apologize, adding. "If he dian Prime Minister Justin
"If the Canadian side really Canada's deputy prime Her statements came hours won't apologize and re- Trudeau's assertion that
cares about the stability minister, Chrystia Freeland after Chinese foreign minis- tract his threats, boot him China is engaging in coer-
and the prosperity in Hong said in Parliament on Mon- try spokesperson Zhao Lijian back to Beijing." cive diplomacy by impris-
Kong, and really cares day that the ambassador's told reporters that his gov- Meanwhile, Erin O'Toole, oning two Canadian men
about the good health and comments "are not in any ernment had complained the leader of Canada's in retaliation for the arrest
safety of those 300,000 Ca- way in keeping with the to Canada over press criti- main opposition Conser- of a Chinese Huawei ex-
nadian passport-holders in spirit of appropriate diplo- cism of Cong's remarks. He vative party, said Monday ecutive on an American
Hong Kong, and the large matic countries between said Canadian leaders "did that Cong had threatened extradition warrant. The ex-
number of Canadian com- two countries." not verify, but also con- Canadians in Hong Kong ecutive, Meng Wanzhou, is
panies operating in Hong Freeland said Canada will doned the anti-China com- and called on the envoy to living under house arrest in
Kong SAR, you should sup- speak out for human rights ments spreading across the either apologize or leave. Vancouver while her case
port those efforts to fight in China and said Canada nation and made ground- Cherie Wong, the execu- wends through a British Co-
violent crimes," Cong said will support its citizens liv- less accusations against tive director of Alliance lumbia court.q

Greece finalizes plan to build wall on border with Turkey

By COSTAS KANTOURIS and Turkey said it would no lon- vanized square steel tubes
DEREK GATOPOULOS ger prevent migrants trying and concrete foundations,
Associated Press to reach the EU, and tens of according to Greece's
THESSALONIKI, Greece thousands tried to cross into public order ministry. Po-
(AP) — Greece's govern- Greece. lice officials on Monday
ment says it has finalized The two countries are also told The Associated Press
plans to build a wall along at odds over energy rights that a surveillance camera
its northeast border with in the eastern Mediterra- network was also planned
Turkey, over concerns that nean in a dispute that has to cover the entire 192-ki-
migrants may try to stage triggered a dangerous mili- lometer (120-mile) Greek-
mass crossings into the Eu- tary buildup in the region Turkish border, while police
ropean Union country. and fears of conflict. have already started trials
Government spokesman Four Greek construction with high-powered mobile
Stelios Petsas said Monday companies have been se- sirens, aimed at deterring
that 26 kilometers (16 miles) lected to build the new wall migrants as they attempt
of wall would be added to and upgrade the existing to cross Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis attends a
an existing 10-kilometer (six- section of fencing, running The number of migrants presentation of the construction of a new part of a fence which
mile) section of fence in a along or close to the Evros and refugees traveling will be built at the border with Turkey, in Alexandroupolis,
63-million-euro ($74 million) River, which forms much from Turkey to Greece fell northern Greece, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020.
project due to be complet- of the border between the sharply this year during the Associated Press
ed by the end of April. two countries. pandemic and after the Turkey has accused islands in the eastern Ae-
A standoff occurred at the The five-meter (15-foot) border standoff prompted Greece of illegally pushing gean Sea, a charge that
border earlier this year after wall will be made using gal- tougher border policing. back migrants reaching its Athens denies. q