China's ambassador to Canada said Tuesday that denying Huawei Technologies access to Canada's next-generation 5G wireless network would send a "very wrong signal" — raising the diplomatic stakes for the Trudeau government as it prepares to issue a decision on the file.

While some of Canada's Five Eyes intelligence-sharing allies have made aggressive moves against Huawei — citing concerns that it is an arm of Chinese military intelligence — Canada has stalled on publicly declaring which companies will be permitted to supply equipment to providers of 5G networks.

Beijing's top diplomat in Ottawa, Ambassador Cong Peiwu, suggested today a decision by Ottawa denying the media giant access would be received poorly by the Chinese business community.