China rudely dismissed German UN Ambassador Christoph Heusgen’s plea to release two Canadian detainees – Michael Kovrig and Michael Pavor, known as the “2 Michaels” – from custody in China..“Let me end my tenure on the Security Council by appealing to my Chinese colleagues to ask Beijing for the release of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor. Christmas is the right moment for such a gesture,” Heusgen said, speaking at his last UN Security Council meeting on December 17,.The response from Chinese Deputy Ambassador Geng Shuang was less than cordial..“Out of the bottom of my heart: Good riddance,” Geng said..For many years Germany has attempted to become a permanent member of the Security Council without success. The Security Council has five permanent and ten rotating members. The permanent members are China, Russia, the US, France and Great Britain. Permanent members have a right of veto – temporary members do not..Germany finishes a two-year term on the 15-member council at the end of this month..Geng also accused Heusgen of abusing the Security Council, to launch “malicious” attacks on other members “in an attempt to poison the working atmosphere.”.“I wish to say something out of the bottom of my heart: Good riddance, Ambassador Heusgen,” Geng said. “I am hoping that the council in your absence in the year 2021 will be in a better position to fulfill the responsibilities…for maintaining international peace and security,” Reuters reported..Russia’s deputy U.N. ambassador, Dmitry Polyanskiy was also happy to see Heusgen leaving..“It seems he’s developed a certain dependency on the council, there’s never a meeting without criticism of Russia even if that’s not suitable for the subject matter. I hope that after Jan. 1 that Christoph’s symptoms will improve,” reported Reuters..China and Russia often stand in opposition to other members of the Security Council, especially on human rights issues..During the meeting, Germany argued hotly with Russia and China over humanitarian aid for Syria. China and Russia questioned Germany’s suitability for a permanent seat on the Security Council. The German path to permanent membership “will be difficult,” said Chinese representative Yao Shaojun..The German government has accused Moscow and Beijing of being responsible for blocking UN aid deliveries to Syria. In July, the UN Security Council finally agreed on the limited continuation of cross-border humanitarian aid deliveries for the Syrian population..The “2 Michaels”, Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, were detained in China espionage-related offences during 2018, shortly after Huawei Technologies Co Ltd Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou was arrested in Canada..Many analysts have described the detention of the two men as hostage diplomacy in retaliation for Meng’s arrest. It was reported Prime Minister Trudeau has confirmed Chinese officials see a link between the cases..The Government of Canada travel advisory for China warns Exercise a high degree of caution in China due to the risk of arbitrary enforcement of local laws..Ken Grafton is the Western Standards Ottawa Bureau Chief. He can be reached at kgrafton@westernstandardonline.com
