By Doina Chiacu and Ismail Shakil
WASHINGTON/OTTAWA, May 4 (Reuters) - China sharply
criticized Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's comment that
linked Chinese-produced lithium to slave labor, and warned
Canada could face consequences if it continues "denigrating
maliciously" the human rights situation in China.
Trudeau, during his visit to the U.S. last week, linked the
production of lithium in China to "slave labor" without
elaborating as he discussed Canada's efforts to ramp up
production of the metal used in electric vehicles and other
batteries.
"His words disregarded facts and confounded black with
white. The Chinese side expresses its strong dissatisfaction and
resolute opposition to this," the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa said
in a statement late on Wednesday.
The embassy accused Trudeau of "political manipulation under
the pretext of human rights" and seeking to undermine China.
"We urge Canada to take a hard look at itself in the mirror,
deeply repent its wrongdoing, and take concrete steps to address
its own serious human rights problems," the embassy said.
"The Canadian side should respect facts, set aside
prejudice, and stop denigrating maliciously the human rights
situation in China, otherwise Canada will certainly take the
consequences."
Trudeau's office said it did not have anything to add to his
comments from last week.
Relations between Canada and China have soured for various
reasons in recent years, most recently over allegations that
Beijing tried to meddle in Canadian affairs in 2021 by targeting
a lawmaker and his family.
Canada's Foreign Minister Melanie Joly told a parliamentary
committee on Thursday that Ottawa had summoned China's
ambassador over the allegations of threat against Michael Chong,
a member of parliament with Canada's main opposition
Conservative party.
The move came after the Globe and Mail newspaper
reported on Monday that
China sought information
about Chong in a likely effort to "make an example" of him
and "deter others from taking anti-PRC positions." The Chinese
consulate in Toronto denied the report.
(Reporting by Doina Chiacu in Washington and Ismail Shakil in
Ottawa; Editing by Josie Kao)
