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International relations

In row with China, Canada wrestles own legacy of Indigenous abuse

Beijing uses school graves to blunt criticism; Huawei's Meng faces decisive hearings

A memorial at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Columbia, where the remains of 215 children were found. China has accused Canada of human rights "crimes."   © Reuters

OTTAWA -- The discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves of Indigenous children at defunct "residential schools" has provoked widespread remorse in Canada -- and complicated the country's already tense relationship with China.

China last week seized on the disturbing revelations to undermine a Canadian-led effort by 44 countries to hold Beijing accountable for alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Tibet. In a pre-emptive statement to the United Nations Human Rights Council, China cited the children's graves in accusing Canada of "crimes" against its Indigenous people.

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