Middle powers must stand together — academics urge Australia to fight Chinese ‘bullying’
Australia has issued a statement raising concerns about China’s detention of two Canadian citizens after foreign policy experts questioned why Canberra had been silent.
The arrests of entrepreneur Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, a former former diplomat, earlier this month came after Canada detained a Huawei executive in Vancouver at the request of the United States.
There was swift condemnation of the arrest of two Canadians by the European Union, Britain, Germany and France. They were concerned about the apparent political motivation of their detention. China accused Spavor and Kovrig of endangering state security.
Despite the international outcry, Australia — another of Canada’s key western allies — stayed silent.
