Canada-China relations at 'low point' and could fall further ** Las relaciones entre Canadá y China en 'punto bajo' y podrían caer aún más
The detentions of two Canadians in China may not be the end of worsening relations between the two countries, according to an analyst and two former diplomats.
"While Canada-China relations have hit a low point, we may still be going lower," Scott McKnight, managing editor of the China Open Research Network at the University of Toronto said Monday on CTV's Your Morning.
Businessman Michael Spavor and on-leave diplomat Michael Kovrig have both been detained in China in apparent retaliation for the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver.
Meng has been released from custody on bail and is awaiting a hearing on whether she will be extradited to the U.S. to face charges of fraud.
"We have to unpack what exactly the Chinese are going for. They're looking to put as much pressure on the Canadian government as possible," McKnight said.
"The way the Chinese are interpreting this is [that] Canada has one of their own, and they want her back."