Coronavirus: Justin Trudeau confirms China blocking consular visits to detained Canadians, who have been held for 500 days
- Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig have been in custody since December 2018 in apparent retaliation for arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou
- Canadian foreign minister describes detention as ‘500 days too many’
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Thursday – the 500th day of China’s controversial detention of two Canadians – that consular visits had been blocked due to a coronavirus lockdown of prisons.
“We have been working extremely diligently on the issue of Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, who have been detained for 500 days in China,” Trudeau said at a daily briefing.
Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne, speaking during a video event hosted by the Montreal International Relations Council (CORIM), described the detention as “500 days too many”.
The Canadian businessman and former diplomat were detained in December 2018 in apparent retaliation for the arrest in Vancouver of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou on a US warrant.
The United States wants her extradited to face trial on charges related to the Chinese telecoms equipment maker’s alleged violations of US sanctions against Iran. Meng is fighting extradition, and that case is pending.