China鈥檚 Ambassador to Canada says the jailing of two Canadian winery owners being held over an alleged customs crime 鈥渟hould not be politicized.鈥�
Shaye Lu told CTV鈥檚 Power Play on Friday that John Chang and Lan-Fed (Allison) Lu have been imprisoned for 鈥渁 simple commercial smuggling issue鈥� and he criticized the media attention.
鈥淣ow this case is already coming into a judicial process,鈥� Lu added. 鈥淟et the courts do their work and we can wait for the results of the trial.鈥�
The owners of Lulu Island Winery in Richmond, B.C. were arrested in Shanghai in March 2016 while visiting suppliers and agents, and accused of under-reporting the value of wine they export to China.
Chang has been jailed since then, while Lu was released in January on the condition she not leave China. Her Canadian passport was confiscated and she must report regularly to authorities.
Amy Chang, the couple鈥檚 daughter, has met with the leaders of Canada鈥檚 NDP and Conservative Party to plead her case.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland expressed 鈥渄eep concern鈥� about the situation in daily question period in the House of Commons on Thursday and said she too would meet Chang.
"It has been raised repeatedly at a high level by the government and officials,鈥� Freeland said in a response to a question from Conservative leader Andrew Scheer.
鈥淥ur officials are in contact with Mr. Chang, Ms. Lu, and their family,鈥� Freeland added.
Chang has said she wants Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to raise her parents' detainment and imprisonment.
"If this is an issue regarding undervaluation, then they can let me know and we can deal with this diplomatically," she said.
"There's no need to have Canadian citizens detained overseas and imprisoned,鈥� she added.
China does not recognize dual nationality. According to the family, China recognizes their Canadian citizenship.
With files from The Canadian Press
