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Second Canadian Detained in China

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

takyon writes:

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: 1) by khallow on Monday December 17 2018, @02:40AM

    by khallow (3766) Subscriber Badge on Monday December 17 2018, @02:40AM (#775265) Journal

    As for where we stand, we're risking our fucking economy for you,

    No, sorry that's not where you stand. That's where Canada stands. You've instead established that you'll roll over for the bigger bully.

    all China has to do is withdraw from the real estate market along with a couple of other industries and we're likely fucked.

    Less fucked than China would be. Meanwhile it'll be a windfall for those Canadians buying all that cheap real estate and entering those markets. There is this bizarre insistence that China can do incredibly stupid things that give wealth to Canada, and somehow it'll be bad.