Businessman Michael Spavor, who worked with North Korea, and
former diplomat Michael Kovrig were picked up separately in
December, shortly after Canada arrested Huawei Technologies Co
Ltd Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou, who faces extradition
to the United States.
China has repeatedly demanded Meng be released, and has reacted
angrily to extradition proceedings against her in a Canadian
court.
"According to Chinese prosecutors' approval, Michael Kovrig, due
to being suspected of crimes of gathering state secrets and
intelligence for foreign (forces), and Michael Spavor, for being
suspected of crimes of stealing and illegally providing state
secrets for foreign (forces), have in recent days been approved
for arrest according to law," foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang
told a daily news briefing.
The measures were in accordance with the law, Lu said, and
Beijing hoped Canada "will not make irresponsible remarks" about
law enforcement and judicial proceedings in China.
Canada's government denounced the move.
"Canada strongly condemns their arbitrary arrest as we condemned
their arbitrary detention on Dec. 10. We reiterate our demand
that China immediately release Mr. Kovrig and Mr. Spavor,"
Canada's foreign ministry said.
Canadian diplomats have made recent consular visits to them
both, it added, declining to provide further details for privacy
reasons.
"Canada continues to express its appreciation to those who have
spoken in support of these detained Canadians and the rule of
law. This includes Australia, the EU, France, Germany, the
United Kingdom, the United States, the Netherlands, Latvia,
Lithuania, Estonia, Spain, Denmark, NATO, and the G7."
In March, China accused the two of involvement in stealing state
secrets.
China has said it is fully guaranteeing both men's lawful
rights. Kovrig also holds Hungarian citizenship.
Kovrig works for the International Crisis Group (ICG)
non-governmental organization which focuses on conflict
resolution.
With their formal arrest, they could soon face trial, though it
is unclear when that may be.
While Canada says China has made no specific link between the
detentions of the two men and Meng's arrest, experts and former
diplomats say they have no doubt it is using their cases to
pressure Canada.
Meng, 47, is the daughter of Huawei Technologies Co Ltd's
billionaire founder, Ren Zhengfei.
She was arrested at Vancouver's airport in December on a U.S.
warrant and is fighting extradition on charges that she
conspired to defraud global banks about Huawei's relationship
with a company operating in Iran.
Meng was released from jail in December on C$10 million ($7.5
million) bail and must wear an electronic ankle bracelet and pay
for security guards. She has been living in a Vancouver home
that was valued at C$5 million in 2018.
Both she and the company have denied the U.S. charges.
(Reporting by Michael Martina; Additional reporting by David
Ljunggren in Ottawa; Writing by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Darren
Schuettler, Robert Birsel)
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