China trials of Canadians Kovrig and Spavor will start soon: state media
- The men have been detained for two years and were charged last year over suspected crimes undermining China’s national security
- Covid-19 pandemic blamed for delay in hearings getting under way for the pair, described as diplomatic hostages by Canada and US
Citing an unnamed source, Global Times, an affiliate of Communist Party mouthpiece People’s Daily, said the court would push the trial forward “soon”, after hearings were delayed because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
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“Kovrig was accused of having used an ordinary passport and business visa to enter China to steal sensitive information and intelligence through contacts in China since 2017, while Spavor was accused of being a key source of intelligence for Kovrig,” the report said.
“They are suspected of crimes endangering China’s national security, and have already been [charged].”
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian did not confirm whether a trial would start soon, but added that the cases were handled in accordance with law.
The Canadian government said on Friday that it remained deeply concerned by the arbitrary detention by Chinese authorities of the two men and was “not aware of any set timeline for the trials”.
Global Affairs Canada, the Canadian department in charge of the country’s diplomatic relations, said it had not been notified of court hearings for Kovrig or Spavor.