Two Canadians detained by Beijing more than two years ago on suspicion of espionage will go before Chinese courts this week and the next, Canada said today, again ramping up diplomatic tension between Ottawa and Beijing.
Canadian businessman Michael Spavor and former diplomat Michael Kovrig have both been detained in China. Photo: RNZ/ AFP
China arrested the men in December 2018 soon after Canadian police detained Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou on a US warrant. She is under house arrest in Vancouver as she fights extradition to the United States.
"Our embassy in Beijing has been notified that court hearings for Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig are scheduled to take place on 19 March and 22 March, respectively," Foreign Minister Marc Garneau said in a statement.
"We believe these detentions are arbitrary, and remain deeply troubled by the lack of transparency surrounding these proceedings."
China has a conviction rate of well over 99 percent, and public and media access to trials in sensitive cases is typically limited.
Beijing insists the detentions are not linked to Meng's arrest.
In a separate statement, Global Affairs Canada spokesperson Jason Kung told Reuters that Kovrig's hearing would take place in the capital, Beijing, with Spavor's held in the city of Dandong in the northeastern province of Liaoning.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Photo: Dave Chan / AFP
The two men face spying charges and it is unclear how long the process may take, but "there will be a verdict," a Canadian government source said.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has sought support from US President Joe Biden to counter Chinese influence.
"Human beings are not bartering chips," Biden said after speaking with Trudeau by video link in February. "We're going to work together until we get their safe return."
- Reuters