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posted by Fnord666 on Friday December 14 2018, @04:59AM   Printer-friendly
from the 2-for-1 dept.

Canadian Michael Spavor detained in China as Huawei row continues

A second Canadian has been detained in China on accusations of harming national security, as tension continues between the two countries. It was confirmed on Thursday that Michael Spavor, a businessman, had been detained in addition to former diplomat Michael Kovrig.

Canada drew Chinese protests after it arrested an executive at telecoms giant Huawei at the request of the US. Meng Wanzhou has been bailed but may face extradition for fraud.

[...] Michael Spavor is a businessman based in Dandong, near the Chinese border with North Korea. He has ties to the North Korean government and has met its leader Kim Jong-un many times.

Ex-diplomat Michael Kovrig currently works for a think tank, the International Crisis Group (ICG), which has said it is concerned for his health and safety. He is being held officially "on suspicion of engaging in activities that harm China's state security".

However, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, Lu Kang, suggested another reason, saying the ICG had not been registered as a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in China and therefore it was unlawful for its staff to work there. Checks by Reuters news agency did not turn up a registration for ICG on government databases for NGOs or social enterprises.

Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland has said Mr Kovrig's case was raised directly with Chinese officials.

The article has a photo of Spavor standing with Dennis Rodman.

Previously: Canada Arrests Huawei's Global Chief Financial Officer in Vancouver
Arrest of Huawei Executive Causing Discontent Among Chinese Elites
China Arrests Former Canadian Diplomat; Chinese Companies Ban iPhones, Require Huawei Phones


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  • (Score: 2) by linkdude64 on Friday December 14 2018, @11:56PM (4 children)

    by linkdude64 (5482) on Friday December 14 2018, @11:56PM (#774612)

    This makes even more clear to everyone who lives in reality that China is a threat, not because we always want to be able to chant "USA #1!!!", because we will do that anyway, and in the face of all prevailing evidence, but because China is a threat to civilization, period. It's not that they have power, it should be explicitly clear now that it's how they use that power that is the problem. Not just against Canadians, but against their own people.

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  • (Score: 2) by dry on Saturday December 15 2018, @02:24AM (3 children)

    by dry (223) on Saturday December 15 2018, @02:24AM (#774661) Journal

    Well, in a way America did start this, it isn't like any of the other companies that have dealt with Iran, or even destroyed the worlds economy, were actually arrested and threatened with long jail sentences. Usually it is a fine on the company and depending on the standing of the company, that fine might even be more then the profits realized from trading with Iran.

    • (Score: 2) by linkdude64 on Saturday December 15 2018, @03:31AM (2 children)

      by linkdude64 (5482) on Saturday December 15 2018, @03:31AM (#774684)

      America may have been the country to bring the conflict out in the open, but it is doing so as early as possible. Did we learn nothing from North Korea?

      • (Score: 2) by dry on Saturday December 15 2018, @05:19PM (1 child)

        by dry (223) on Saturday December 15 2018, @05:19PM (#774829) Journal

        Was it the N. Korean banks that ruined the worlds economy or crashed jetliners into the World Trade Center?

        • (Score: 2) by linkdude64 on Saturday December 15 2018, @11:47PM

          by linkdude64 (5482) on Saturday December 15 2018, @11:47PM (#774970)

          They were the ones who shot a missle over Japan, which, if it had malfunctioned and struck Japan would have resulted in WWIII, and had to be put in their place. No single country is responsible for ruining the worlds economy, it's actually a small group of "bankers" who are to blame, the same people who created Nazi Germany. Funnily enough, it's that same group of people that is the reason we're so involved in the middle east in the first place!