Pompeo backs Canada on 'coercive detentions' of Canadians in China

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says his country is sticking with Canada in fighting what he calls China's "coercive detentions of Canadian citizens."

Pompeo and Foreign Affairs Minister Franois-Philippe Champagne spoke Monday about a range of global concerns, including China, the ongoing crisis in Venezuelaand the United States' upcoming presidency of the G7 group of countries with large economies.

Champagne said it was "a very productive call."

Relations strained

Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig and entrepreneur Michael Spavor were picked up days after Canada arrested Chinese tech executive Meng Wanzhou on a U.S. extradition warrant related to charges of bank fraud.

Canada has had no luck so far in pressing for their release.

"The United States stands with Canada in calling on Beijing for the immediate release of the two men and rejects the use of these unjustified detentions to coerce Canada," said a statement from Morgan Ortagus, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department.

Under President Donald Trump, the United States and China have been in a deepening spiral of tariffs and counter-tariffs on each other's goods, which Trump has said he hopes will end with a major new trade deal that will see China import more American products.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said he's asked the U.S. not to sign a new trade agreement with Beijing until the Canadians are freed.

War of words

China's attitude toward the United States has grown increasingly belligerent. In a regular news conference at China's foreign ministry this week, spokesman Geng Shuang took aim at the U.S. over several issues, including the weaponization of space and humanitarian aid in Syria.

For instance, Pompeo had criticized Russia and China for voting against a UN Security Council resolution on Syria a move Champagne called disappointing in a statement on Sunday.

Geng said the crisis in Syria is ultimately the Americans' fault.

"The world sees clearly who keeps lying with hearts full of hypocrisy and blood on their hands," Geng said, according to a transcript posted in English on the foreign-ministry website. "It is they who should repent."