Canadian Consulate allowed to Visit Two China-Detained Canadian Citizens Online, Trudeau to discuss with Trump, Seeking for their Release

After detention of Meng Wenzhou, the daughter of Huawei founder, by Canada in December 2018. China arrested and prosecuted two Canadian citizens, a former diplomat Michael Kovrig and a businessman Michael Spavor. The Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs said today (October 11) that the ambassador to China, Dominic Barton, was granted virtual consular access to the two men on Friday and Saturday respectively, for the first time since January. Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau discussed this matter with the US President Donald Trump on a phone call and thanked Trump for U.S. support in seeking the immediate release of the two Canadian citizen.

The Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada issued a statement, deeply concerned by the arbitrary detention by Chinese authorities, saying that the last consular access was on January 13 and 14, and calling on China for the immediate release of two persons. The minister also said although it has no direct access to them, it would keep on assisting them and their families. Due to privacy concerns, it cannot not provide further information.

Source: Stand News #Oct11

https://bit.ly/3lHrWXH

#China #Canada #ArbitraryDetention #MichaelKovrig #MichaelSpavor #DominicBarton #JustinTrudeau #Trump #ConsularAccess

Trudeau Hopes Biden to Keep Pressure on China for the Release of Two Canadians Citizen

Canadian Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau said on Monday that he hopes the future administration of the US President-elect Biden keep pressure on China to release the two Canadian citizens.

At the request of the United States in December 2018, Canada arrested Meng Wanzhou, the deputy chair of the board and chief financial officer of the telecom giant, Huawei, at the Vancouver Airport in transit. China subsequently detained a former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig and a businessman Michael Spavor, who were indiced in June on suspicion of spying on state secrets and intelligence for a foreign country. Western countries widely criticize China of detaining the two men in retaliation for the arrest of Meng Wanzhou.

#Canada #China #Biden #JustinTrudeau #MengWanzhou #Huawei #MichaelKovrig #MichaelSpavor

Source: Apple Daily #Nov10

https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20201110/DDVHD6R4FJCRVPCMKKBPYLMCJQ/

Canada Confirmed Detained Citizens Not Been Trial in China, Despite Confusing Message from China's Spokesperson

Canada said it has confirmed with China that the former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor, who had been detained by China for 2 years, have not brought to trial, contrary to statements made by spokesperson of Chinese Foreign Ministry.

During a media briefing on Thursday, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying said the two men had been "arrested, indicted and tried" by Chinese authority. This was the first time China has publicly claimed to have taken the two to court.

Hua did not provide more information during the briefing. The Canadian Department of Global Affairs issued a statement on Thursday, saying that the Canadian Embassy in Beijing had spoken with the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and confirmed that both have not been put on trial. The statement said Chinese officials “confirmed that the confusion was caused by an inaccurate characterisation of the process made by the Chinese MFA spokesperson”

Source: Apply Daily #Dec11

#Canada #China #ChineseForeignMinistry #HuaChunYing #Misinformation #MichaelKovrig #MichaelSpavor

https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20201211/EKPEKEA7UZF2JEP3WOGDA3EYGI

Germany's UN envoy urged China to release the 2 captive Canadians, China replied “Good Riddance”

Christoph Heusgen, UN envoy of Germany, attended his last meeting of the Security Council on Tuesday (Dec 22). At the meeting, he call on China to free the two detained Canadian citizens, but China deputy UN envoy Geng Shuang promptly respond with “good riddance”.

As Germany end its 2-years term as non-permanent member of the UN Security Council this month, and Ambassador Christoph Heusgen's retirement after being a diplomat for over 40 years. He utilises his parting message to call on China, “Let me end my tenure on the Security Council by appealing to my Chinese colleagues to ask Beijing for the release of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor. Christmas is the right moment for such a gesture,”

However, Geng accused Huesgen of abusing the Security Council to launch “malicious” attack on other members “in an attempt to poison the working atmosphere.” He said, “I wish to say something out of the bottom of my heart: Good riddance, Ambassador Heusgen. I am hoping that the council in your absence in the year 2021 will be in a better position to fulfill the responsibilities...for maintaining international peace and security.”

#GengShuang #ChristophHuesgen #China #Germany #Canada #UN #SecurityCouncil #MichaelKovrig #MichaelSpavor

Source: Apple daily #Dec23

https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20201223/Z5NPPCONDZC6HHRDMAUPUVM2YU/

China to try two Canadians charged with espionage 'soon': Global Times

Two Canadians, Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, were arrested in December 2018 shortly after Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou was arrested in Canada on a U.S. warrant. She faces charges of misleading HSBC Holdings Plc about the Chinese tech giant’s business dealings with Iran, which is under U.S. sanctions. They were formally charged with espionage in June 2020

The Global Times reported, citing an unnamed source, China will “soon” hold its first trial for Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig.

Canada and the United States have repeatedly demanded that China release Kovrig and Spavor, with Ottawa calling their arrest an act of “hostage diplomacy”.

Source: Reuters #Mar12

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-canada-trial-idUSKBN2B400Q?taid=604ababcb7d77200018e3c76&utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter

#Canada #HostageDiplomacy #China #MichaelSpavor #MichaelKovrig

Michael Spavor: Canadian spy trial in China ends without verdict

A Canadian businessman Michael Spavor was arrested two years ago along with fellow Canadian and former diplomat Michael Kovrig.

Mr Spavor's trial took place in the northern Chinese city of Dandong and just lasted for two hours. A group of foreign diplomats gathered outside the court, but all of whom were denied entry. Canadian diplomats were also refused access to Mr Spavor before his trial, and that they were "disappointed by the lack of transparency and the lack of access". The closely-watched trial ended with no verdict.

Mr Kovrig is due to go on trial next week. Both Canadians have been held in prison since their arrest in December 2018.

Source: BBC #Mar20

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-56452981

#Canadian #MichaelSpavor #MichaelKovrig #China

More than 20 Diplomats in Beijing Calling China to Release the 2 Arrested Canadians;
China Criticizes Canada for “Gathering Nations and Confusing Right and Wrong”.

Canadian merchant Michael Spavor was being convicted of espionage by a Chinese court and sentenced to 11-year imprisonment. Canadian Foreign Minister Marc Garneau criticized the trial process as a sham trial, being unfair and Opaque.

Diplomats from more than 20 countries, including the United States, Japan, United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, and the EU, gathered at the Canadian Embassy in Beijing to show their supports. They urged to have a fair trial or a release of Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized Canada for “gathering individual countries, disregarding the facts and confusing the right and wrong”.

Canadian Foreign Minister Marc Garneau stated in the live broadcast at CTV Television Network on August 11 that the sentence is a lack of fairness and transparency. He also indicated that “We are known that arbitrary detention of China and a sham trial with a lack of transparency and with an unreasonable judgement do not match the International Law”. He continued that the Canadian government was negotiating with Senior officials from China and the US, finding the solution to release both. However, Marc did not reveal any details.

Source: Stand News #Aug12

https://bit.ly/3jaPXb4

#Canada #China #Japan #UnitedStates #UnitedKingdom #Australia #Germany #EU #Embassy #ShamTrial #Transparency #Unfairness #ForeignAffairs #MichaelKovrig #MichaelSpavor #MarcGarneau

Canadian Media: the US Talks to Huawei about Letting Meng Wanzhou Return to China Without Mentioning the Release of the 2 Canadians

In 2018, the US alleged Huawei’s Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanchou involving in bank fraud and violating sanctions against Iran, and asked Canada to arrest her. After Canada arresting her, China detained two Canadians, Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, accusing them of espionage. Foreign media stated this as “hostage politics”.

Arrested in 2018 but still have no decision on the extradition

The event originated from the US Department of Justice, alleging that Meng Wanchou was involved in HSBC bank fraud, which made HSBC at risk of violating US sanctions against Iran. The US asked Canada to extradite Meng to the US for trial. In December 2018, Canada arrested Meng Wanchou at the request of the United States, but whether she will be extradited to the US for trial will still be subject to a hearing.

Source: Stand News #Sep19

https://bit.ly/3aGEJX0

#Canada #UnitedStates #MengWanchou #Huawei #China #Iran #Sanction #HSBC #MichaelSpavor #MichaelKovrig #HostagePolitics