Trudeau leans on Trump to help Canadians detained in China at G20 summit

By The Canadian Press

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau leaves for a G20 summit Wednesday, expecting to lean on the power and influence of U.S. President Donald Trump to raise the issue of two detained Canadians during a meeting with China’s president.

Trump pledged his support during his own meeting with Trudeau last Thursday in the Oval Office, where he vowed to do anything he could to help Canada.

The G20 summit in Osaka, Japan, comes as Canada continues to push for the release of Canadians in China, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor.

The Prime Minister’s Office has said little on the possibility of Trudeau getting his own meeting with the Chinese president.

David Mulroney, a former Canadian ambassador to China, says it should not come as a surprise China is not interested in a meeting, adding Trump will be Canada’s best shot and the prime minister could use the G20 to talk to other leaders about the issue as well.

Christopher Sands, the director of the Center for Canadian Studies at Johns Hopkins University, agrees that Canada doesn’t play offence very much but he suggests that Canada try to enlist other G20 leaders to help.

The Canadian Press

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