Canada and US demand immediate release of Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, held in ‘arbitrary detention’ by China
- The demand is a sharp escalation, with Canada’s Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland directly linking the arrests to Canada’s detention of Meng Wanzhou
- Freeland said Meng was facing a ‘fair, unbiased and transparent legal proceeding’, in contrast to China’s treatment of Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig
Ottawa and Washington on Friday stepped up pressure on Beijing, calling for the immediate release of two Canadians detained in apparent retaliation for the arrest in Vancouver of Chinese tech executive Sabrina Meng Wanzhou on a US warrant.
The European Union also said it was backing Canada in the detentions dispute, in which Ottawa has been caught up in the rivalry between Beijing and Washington.
“We are deeply concerned by the arbitrary detention by Chinese authorities of two Canadians earlier this month and call for their immediate release,” Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said in a statement. It was a sharp escalation in tone by Canadian authorities, who have been notably restrained in their response to the arrests.
US State Department spokesman Robert Palladino also called for the two to be freed, while European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini said through a spokesperson: “The EU supports the efforts of the Canadian government.”
China denies detained Canadian ex-diplomat Michael Kovrig access to a lawyer
China detained former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig and China-based business consultant Michael Spavor on December 10, following Canada’s arrest of Huawei chief financial officer Meng while she was changing planes in Vancouver on December 1.