Cong Peiwu said at a talk hosted by the Centre for International Governance Innovation that “no one cares” about whether U.S. officials would be at the Olympics because “no invitation was sent to them.” Cong also said concerns over Huawei’s 5G technology is an “overstretch” by the U.S. and that he hopes Canada can provide a “fair, open and non-discriminatory” business environment. (The Logic)

Talking Point: The federal government’s three-year-long review of potential security risks in next-generation 5G networks is expected soon, Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne indicated in November. As my colleague David R. reported, the review doesn’t have a formal process, public timeline or a plain way to effect a ban on Huawei. Cong’s Canadian counterpart, ambassador Dominic Barton, resigned Monday just months after Beijing’s release of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor. Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden announced on Monday a diplomatic boycott against Beijing’s Winter Olympics. Canada is reportedly discussing a potential boycott while several other countries have indicated that they will find ways to protest China’s human rights abuses, whether they declare a diplomatic boycott or not.