Canada ‘extremely disappointed’ over China’s detention of Michael Kovrig, Michael Spavor
- Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan calls for immediate release of Canadian citizens held on spying charges
- Beijing’s actions ‘undermine democracy’, lawmaker says
Canada is “extremely disappointed” that China continues to detain two of its citizens, its defence minister said on Saturday, as tensions escalate over a case that has roiled ties between the nations for almost six months.
Ottawa was respecting the rule of law when it arrested Huawei Technologies’ chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver in December on an extradition request from the United States, Harjit Sajjan said.
Meng has denied any wrongdoing and continues to fight the extradition in Canadian courts.
“In our democracy, the political system does not interfere with the judicial system and that’s where this process is,” Sajjan said in Singapore, where he is attending a regional security forum. “We’re extremely disappointed with China’s reaction, having two Canadians arbitrarily detained in this regard. And we seek their immediate release.”
China has repeatedly defended the arrest of Michael Kovrig, who works for the International Crisis Group, and entrepreneur Michael Spavor.