Justin Trudeau abstains from China genocide vote
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Toronto, February 23
Canada’s House of Commons has voted to declare that China is committing genocide against more than 1 million Uighurs in the western Xinjiang region but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Cabinet abstained from the vote.
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China condemns
- Canada’s motion
China said on Tuesday that it condemned and rejected Canada’s parliament passing a non-binding motion, saying China’s treatment of Uighurs was genocide. China has lodged stern representations with Canada, the foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said. Reuters
The non-binding motion passed 266-0 as virtually all but Trudeau and his Cabinet voted for the measure that also called on the International Olympic Committee to move the 2022 Winter Olympics from Beijing.
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A senior government official told The Associated Press that Canada’s foreign minister would make the government’s position clear but said declaring something in Parliament was not going to adequately get results in China and that work with international allies and partners was needed. The official spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to speak publicly about the matter. The main opposition parties supported the motion and control the majority of seats in the House of Commons. — AP
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