Questions Linger About Unusual Comments by Canada’s China Envoy in Huawei CFO Case

As an old Chinese saying goes, “Spilled water is hard to retrieve.” This could be the lesson Canada’s China envoy is learning the hard way as he took back his comments made to Chinese media regarding the legal proceedings of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou.

Canadian Ambassador to China John McCallum responds to questions following his participation at the federal cabinet meeting in Sherbrooke, Que., on Jan. 16, 2019. The Canadian Press/Paul Chiasson

News Analysis

TORONTO—As an old Chinese saying goes, “Spilled water is hard to retrieve.” This could be the lesson Canada’s China envoy is learning the hard way as he took back his comments made to Chinese media regarding the legal proceedings of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou, whose arrest in Vancouver at the request of the United States has soured Canada-China relations.