Canada has ‘broad international coalition’ of support on China file: Freeland

OSAKA, Japan – Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland says Canada is fortunate to have assembled a “broad international coalition” of countries who support Canada and believe arbitrary detentions are harmful.

Freeland told reporters in Osaka, Japan at the G20 that China has been hearing about the detention of two Canadians from a range of countries and that efforts continue at the summit.

She also says Canada has been open for a long time to having conversations at a higher level with China in addition to discussions unfolding at some diplomatic levels.

At the moment, Canada is relying heavily on the influence of U.S. President Donald Trump to raise the issue in his own bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday.

Freeland wouldn’t speak to whether there was a specific ask of Trump going into the meeting, adding it is never prudent or appropriate to go into details of private meetings with partners.

She says what has been made clear publicly is that the partnership between Canada and the United States is very strong.