Canada names new China envoy amid damaged relations

Canada on Wednesday announced the appointment of a new ambassador to China amid damaged relations following the arrest of a top Chinese tech executive.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Dominic Barton, the former global managing director of consulting firm McKinsey & Co, is the new envoy.

Trudeau fired the previous ambassador after he said it would be “great” if the U.S. dropped its extradition request for Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou.

The arrest of the daughter of the founder of Huawei at Vancouver’s airport Dec. 1 severely damaged relations between China and Canada.

The U.S. wants her extradited to face charges that she committed fraud by misleading banks about Huawei’s business dealings in Iran.

China detained Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor on Dec. 10 in an apparent attempt to pressure Canada to release Meng. China has stopped importing certain Canadian products like canola and meat, and it also re-sentenced a convicted Canadian drug smuggler to death after the Meng arrest as part of an apparent campaign of intimidation and retribution against Canada.

Barton worked in Asia for 12 years as well as serving on the board of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada and being listed as an adjunct professor at Tsinghua University in Beijing, according to online biographies.

Rob Malley, president of the non-governmental organization that Kovrig worked for, the International Crisis Group, called Barton’s appointment very good news.

“I have been in touch with Dominic for some time and know his commitment to human rights and to Michael specifically,” Malley said.

“I am confident he will do everything in his power to end Michael’s detention.  With his deep interest in Asia, strong economic background and close ties to the Prime Minister, he also he will be taken seriously by Chinese authorities.”