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Police vehicles exit the Dandong Intermediate People’s Court, where the trial of Canadian Michael Spavor was held, in China’s northeast Liaoning province on March 19. Photo: AFP

China should immediately release Canadians Spavor and Kovrig, says US top diplomat

  • ‘People should never be used as bargaining chips,’ says Secretary of State Antony Blinken
  • Canadian citizen Michael Spavor was sentenced to 11 years in prison on espionage charges
Canada
China should immediately and unconditionally release two Canadian citizens subject to “arbitrary detention” and heed the concerns of dozens of nations in halting the use of arrests for diplomatic leverage, America’s top diplomat said Wednesday.

The strongly worded statement followed the sentencing earlier in the day of Canadian citizen Michael Spavor to 11 years in prison on espionage charges and the ongoing detention of Canadian Michael Kovrig, who has not been convicted or sentenced.

The timing of their detentions – in December 2018 just days after senior Huawei Technologies Co. executive Meng Wanzhou was arrested in Canada over bank fraud charges at Washington’s request – has led to accusations of tit-for-tat incarcerations.

“The practice of arbitrarily detaining individuals to exercise leverage over foreign governments is completely unacceptable. People should never be used as bargaining chips,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

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China sentences Canadian businessman Michael Spavor to 11 years for spying

China sentences Canadian businessman Michael Spavor to 11 years for spying

“We continue to condemn these arbitrary detentions as well as the sentence imposed against Mr Spavor on August 10,” Blinken continued. “Mr Spavor and Mr Kovrig have not received the minimal procedural protections during their more than two-and-a-half-year arbitrary detention.”

Spavor, a Canadian consultant who worked extensively in North Korea, was found guilty of “spying and illegal provision of state secrets abroad” by the Liaoning court on Wednesday. He was also fined 50,000 yuan (US$7,700) and faces deportation at the conclusion of his prison sentence. He has 10 days to appeal.

In 2013, Spavor made waves when he helped facilitate a visit to Pyongyang by American basketball star Dennis Rodman. Kovrig, a former diplomat, worked for the International Crisis Group, a transnational think tank.

Chinese court sentences Canadian Michael Spavor to 11 years for spying

Blinken said the US joins with over 60 countries in endorsing the Declaration Against Arbitrary Detention in State-to-State Relations, a non-binding measure initiated by Canada in February. The declaration does not mention the People’s Republic of China (PRC) by name.

“In my discussions with PRC officials, I have raised several cases of both US and Canadian citizens subject to arbitrary detentions and exit bans in China, and I strongly support the immediate and unconditional release of all those whom the People’s Republic of China has arbitrarily detained,” Blinken said.

Wednesday’s sentencing comes as relations between Ottawa and Beijing founder. China has intermittently blocked some imports of key Canadian farm products, including canola seeds, soybeans and pork.

After a national security law was imposed, Canada suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong, halted exports of sensitive military goods and warned its citizens they faced arbitrary arrest in the city.
“I strongly support the immediate and unconditional release of all those whom the People’s Republic of China has arbitrarily detained,” said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Photo: Reuters

The Chinese embassy in Ottawa quickly issued a counter warning about “frequent” instances of police violence and demonstrations in Canada.

On Wednesday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned Spavor’s sentence as “absolutely unacceptable and unjust”.

Blinken joined Trudeau in criticising the lack of clarity, insufficient consular access for accused detainees and secrecy surrounding judicial proceedings for the Canadians in apparent violation of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and the China-Canada consular agreement.

“The United States also remains deeply troubled by the lack of transparency surrounding these legal proceedings,” Blinken said. “We call upon PRC authorities to grant the requests of Canadian officials and other foreign diplomats to attend their proceedings.”

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Meng has also been held in Vancouver for nearly 1,000 days although she has been allowed to remain under partial house arrest in two family-owned mansions. Meng, Huawei’s chief financial officer and the daughter of company founder Ren Zhengfei, is accused of misleading HSBC about Huawei’s business dealings in Iran, which was subject to US sanctions.

Analysts said ongoing trans-Pacific salvoes diminish chances that the world’s two largest economies can address issues of mutual concern moving forward.

“As long as these kinds of tit-for-tat measures are being taken, it really undercuts trust and the rapport that you need going into other significant issues of international cooperation, like climate change,” said Sarah Kreps, professor of government and law at Cornell University. “If there’s so much acrimony between the two sides, you’re not going to be in a place where you can sit across the table any time soon.”

The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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