Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday accused Beijing of using "arbitrary detentions" as a tool in pursuit of political goals -- the latest broadside in a diplomatic and trade row with China.

Western allies, he said, have expressed concerns about the tactic that observers described as "hostage diplomacy."

Canada's relations with China soured after its arrest of Chinese Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou on a US warrant last December.

Nine days later, Beijing detained two Canadians -- former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor -- accusing them of espionage in a move widely viewed as retaliation.

They are among a string of foreign nationals arrested in China and charged with espionage or attempting to steal state secrets.

"Using arbitrary detention as a tool to achieve political goals, international or domestic, is something that is of concern not just to Canada but to all our allies," Trudeau told the Toronto Star editorial board.

He said nations including Britain, France, Germany and the United States "have been highlighting that this is not acceptable behaviour in the international community because they are all worried about China engaging in the same kinds of pressure tactics with them."

Trudeau added that "we need to figure out how to engage with them, but we also have to be clear-eyed about it, that China plays by a very different set of rules and principles than we do in the West."

In a sign this week that Ottawa and Beijing may be ready to dialogue, Ottawa and Beijing -- which had been without representation for months -- nominated new ambassadors.

The latest foreigner to be held by China was Australian academic Yang Jun, who also goes by his pen name Yang Hengjun.

He was detained in January shortly after making a rare return to China from the United States, and Beijing announced last week that he had been formally arrested on suspicion of spying.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the suggestion that Yang acted as a spy for Australia was "absolutely untrue" and Canberra expects "his human rights to be respected."

China scolds Canada over 'mistakes' but approves new envoy
Beijing (AFP) Sept 5, 2019 - China said Thursday it accepted Canada's choice for a new ambassador to Beijing but urged Ottawa to "reflect on its mistakes" amid diplomatic tensions between the countries.

Relations nosedived in December after Canadian police arrested a top executive of Chinese tech giant Huawei in Vancouver on a US warrant over charges related to the violation of Iran sanctions.

Beijing detained two Canadians -- former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor -- days later in apparent retaliation, with both men now facing espionage-related accusations.

Canada on Wednesday nominated Dominic Barton as its new envoy to Beijing, eight months after his predecessor, John McCallum, was sacked for contradicting Ottawa's official position on the arrest of Huawei's chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou.

Barton, 56, helped shape the economic policies of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government and is said to be well-known in Beijing.

"China has already agreed the appointment of the new ambassador of Canada to China," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said Thursday at a regular press briefing.

"We look forward to his active role in pushing China-Canada relations back on track," Geng said.

The spokesman said Canada was responsible for the current state of relations.

"Canada is very clear about the crux of the problem in the current Sino-Canadian relationship," he said.

"We urge Canada to reflect on its mistakes, treat China's solemn stance and concerns seriously, and immediately release Meng Wanzhou, so that she can return home safely," Geng said.

He added that Cong Peiwu -- who was until July the head of the foreign ministry's Department of North American and Oceanian Affairs -- will serve as China's new ambassador to Canada after his predecessor left to be China's top envoy in Paris.

Barton was based in Shanghai from 2004 to 2009 as the Asia chairman for consulting firm McKinsey. He then served nine years as global managing partner for the company.

At a news conference on Wednesday, Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said Barton would have a direct line to Trudeau's office, saying he "has that level of trust with the prime minister, and also with me."

"I think this is also an important message to China of the importance that Canada places, that the prime minister places, on this difficult and critical relationship," she said.

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