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China wants ‘non-discriminatory’ treatment of Huawei, as survey says 76 per cent of Canadians want the tech company banned from 5G

  • Support for Huawei playing a role in Canada’s 5G infrastructure has plummeted since 2019, according to a Nanos poll
  • The findings come after China released Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, whose treatment was viewed by Ottawa as hostage diplomacy

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Michael Kovrig embraces his wife Vina Nadjibulla, left, and sister Ariana Botha after arriving at Pearson International Airport in Toronto on September 25. Photo: The Canadian Press via AP
Ian Youngin Vancouver
China’s foreign ministry has called on Canada to be “non-discriminatory” towards Huawei Technologies Co. and other mainland firms after a survey found more than three-quarters of Canadians want the tech giant banned from the country’s 5G networks.
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The Nanos poll was conducted for The Globe and Mail newspaper after China released two Canadians whose detention for almost three years was viewed by Ottawa as hostage diplomacy.

Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor were released last month on the same day as Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou, who was being held under partial house arrest in Vancouver until she struck a deal with the US that resulted in prosecutors dropping their request for her extradition on fraud charges.

Nanos found that 76 per cent of respondents wanted Huawei banned, up from 53 per cent two years ago.

Michael Kovrig (left) talks to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, while Michael Spavor (in grey), embraces Canada's ambassador to China, Dominic Barton, in Calgary on September 25. Photo: DND-MDN Canada via Reuters
Michael Kovrig (left) talks to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, while Michael Spavor (in grey), embraces Canada's ambassador to China, Dominic Barton, in Calgary on September 25. Photo: DND-MDN Canada via Reuters
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The proportion who thought Huawei’s 5G role should be approved was 10 per cent, down from 22 per cent in 2019, the Globe reported on Monday.
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