A thief crying "stop thief" describes what Canada did on Monday when it endorsed, along with some other countries, a declaration denouncing the arbitrary detention of foreign nationals.

There is no question that arbitrary detention should be denounced; no one should be detained arbitrarily.

But what betrays Canada's ulterior motives is the fact that it deliberately arranged for personnel to attend the launch ceremony for the declaration to claim that China had arbitrarily detained Canadian citizens Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor.

It is clear that Canada was not decrying arbitrary detention, but using the term to bad-mouth China for its detention of two Canadians in December 2018. It is well aware that the two Canadian nationals were detained on charges of engaging in activities that endangered China's national security.

The two Canadians were arrested on suspicion of crimes against China's national security and charged in accordance with the law. Their rights have been fully protected during the process.

The entire world knows who has in fact been detained arbitrarily as a foreign national, and by whom. That is where the bitter irony of the declaration lies.

Meng Wanzhou, the chief financial officer of China's telecommunications giant Huawei, has been arbitrarily detained by Canada for more than two years. Meng has not violated any Canadian laws. It is only at the request of the United States that Canada detained her.

Her arbitrary detention is against the rule of law, which Canada claims to uphold. It has set a bad precedent of placing political consideration above judicial procedures.

In this political farce, Canada has shown no respect for the law. Instead, it acted as an accomplice of the United States and its trumped up charges.

If Canada really "adheres to the rule of law" and "opposes arbitrary detention" as it claims, it should not have detained Meng in the first place. Having done so, and being made aware of its transgression, it should have set Meng free and ensured her safe return to China.

Having released such a "declaration" against "arbitrary detention", Canada continues to compound its wrongdoing.

Relations between Canada and China have become strained since Meng was arbitrarily detained. Yet despite itself being to blame, Canada has no qualms about pointing an accusing finger at China, which will only further deteriorate bilateral relations.

This is not in the interests of either country.

The author contributed this article to China Watch exclusively. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of China Watch.

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