OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has reaffirmed Canada's commitment to the rule of law following Donald Trump's declaration that he might intervene in charges against a top Chinese corporate executive who was arrested in Vancouver.
The U.S. president raised new questions about Canada's role in the growing tensions between two superpowers when he told Reuters in an interview that he could step into the case against Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou if it would help him forge a trade deal with China.
"Whatever's good for this country, I would do," Trump said in Tuesday's interview. "If I think it's good for what will be certainly the largest trade deal ever made — which is a very important thing — what's good for national security — I would certainly intervene if I thought it was necessary."
Trump's comments will intensify the scrutiny of Canada's role in the U.S.-China standoff.
"Regardless of what goes on in other countries, Canada is — and will always remain — a country of the rule of law," Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa on Wednesday.
Trump should be more careful not to cast doubt on his administration's commitment to the rule of law, said Roland Paris, a University of Ottawa international-affairs expert who was Trudeau's first foreign policy adviser.
"The president's remark was troubling," he said. "Canada is acting in good faith, responding to a U.S. extradition request in accordance with the law."
Canadian authorities arrested Meng at the request of the U.S., which alleges she tried to bypass American trade sanctions on Iran and lied to U.S. banks about her actions.
Ottawa has repeatedly stated the arrest, which has enraged China, is keeping with international laws on extradition and was a response to a lawful request from U.S. law enforcement.
Canada already appears to be paying a price.
This week, China detained former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig in a move that came days after Beijing warned Ottawa of severe consequences for Meng's arrest.
The Beijing News reported Wednesday that Kovrig "was suspected of engaging in activities that endanger China's national security."
The report said Kovrig "was taken by Beijing National Security" on Tuesday and that the case is "currently under review."
China's Foreign Ministry insisted it had no information about Kovrig and declined to confirm his detention.
But ministry spokesman Lu Kang said the International Crisis Group, where Kovrig has been a Hong-Kong-based analyst since February 2017, is not registered in China and alleges its activities in the country are illegal.
"I do not have information to provide you here," Lu said when asked about Kovrig. "If there is such a thing, please do not worry, it is assured that China's relevant departments will definitely handle it according to law."
Because Kovrig's group is not registered as a non-governmental organization in China, "once its staff become engaged in activities in China, it has already violated the law," Lu said.
Lu also repeated China's demand for Meng's immediate release.
Trudeau said Wednesday Canada remains "seized with the case," and reiterated that Ottawa was in direct contact with Chinese diplomats and representatives over Kovrig's arrest.
The International Crisis Group said Kovrig was on a regular visit to Beijing when he taken into custody Monday night by the Beijing Bureau of Chinese State Security, which handles intelligence and counterintelligence matters in the Chinese capital.
One of Canada's former ambassadors to China — and Kovrig's boss between 2014 and 2016 — said he has little doubt Kovrig's arrest came in direct response to the Meng case.
"I can tell you that based on my 13 years of experience in China, there are no coincidences... The Chinese government wanted to send us a message," said Guy Saint-Jacques, who was Canada's top envoy to China from 2012 to 2016.
Active diplomats can be expelled by a host country fairly easily, but since they are protected by diplomatic immunity, arresting and holding one would be extraordinary, he said.
"In this case, it's getting as close to that as possible," Saint-Jacques said in an interview with The Canadian Press. "Clearly, they wanted to catch the attention of everyone in Ottawa."
Over his career, Kovrig served in diplomatic postings for the Canadian government in Beijing, Hong Kong and the United Nations mission in New York. His LinkedIn profile says he worked as the "political lead" on Trudeau's visit to Hong Kong in September 2016.
A Vancouver judge released Meng, 46, on $10-million bail and under strict conditions Tuesday. Meng has denied the allegations through her lawyer in court, promising to fight them if she is extradited.