Dominic Barton resigned as ambassador to China after two tense years in which he was praised for helping secure the release of two Canadians held by the Chinese, and criticized for pushing hard to deepen trade ties with Beijing.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Barton’s imminent departure on Monday morning, saying the former company executive would officially leave at the end of the year.
“With great gratitude and respect, I accepted Ambassador Barton’s decision to step down from his post in Beijing at the end of the year,” Trudeau said in a statement.
“Over the past two years, Dominic has led our team in China with determination, integrity and compassion, and at a time when the relationship between our two countries faced difficult challenges. “
The announcement comes three months after the release of two Canadians – Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor – who were first arrested and detained in December 2018 by Chinese authorities.
Their detention in a Chinese prison was apparently in retaliation to Canadian officials who arrested Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou wanted in the United States for fraud.
The case of the two Michael has dominated Barton’s tenure as Canada’s top diplomat in Beijing, which Trudeau noted when announcing his resignation on Monday.
“As a defender of human rights and the rule of law, his top priority has always been to secure the release of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, who had been arbitrarily detained in China for two and a half years” Trudeau said.
“He worked tirelessly on this important task. … Thanks to Dominic’s leadership and his capable diplomatic approach, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor are back home with their families.
The two Michaels were released in September after Wanzhou reached a deferred prosecution agreement with the United States
Yet Barton, who previously served as a senior executive at global consulting firm McKinsey and Co., was also criticized before and during his tenure as Ambassador for deepening trade ties with China despite the growing trend. more authoritative from Beijing.
Trudeau in his statement praised Barton for helping shape Canada’s ties and priorities with China, saying, “Thanks to his efforts, Canada is now in a better position to manage this important relationship and achieve our diplomatic goals.
The Canadian Press
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