A fair trial should be our aim for Michaels

Re: A Dubious Canada-China Anniversary, Oct. 13.

After living in six countries and making working visits to several dozen others, I know that when I am in another country, I am subject to its laws, not the laws of my home country. That is true in the U.S., U.K., China and most other countries. The only special treatment that a foreigner accused of a crime can expect is receiving occasional consular visits.

Margaret McCuaig-Johnston writes as if that were not true.

She implies that Canadians found guilty of drug dealing in China should be treated differently from Chinese guilty of the same crime.

Like our government officials, McCuaig-Johnston asserts that Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor are innocent, but provides no evidence to support that claim. Kovrig and Spavor were neither tourists nor standard businessmen.

Kovrig's employer describes its activities as gathering information (e.g., through local NGOs) and using it to inform and influence foreign organizations. Spavor, while living in China, was openly acting for North Korea. However well-intended they may have been, they could be considered foreign agents and some of their activities could easily be viewed as espionage or sedition. Without a fair and open trial, we won't know. Such a trial should be Canada's goal. “Getting tough” will not help us to achieve that.

McCuaig-Johnston wisely calls for Canada to diversify. However, China is far from our biggest trading partner and certainly not the biggest bully either. China and Canada are in a hole that the U.S. has dug for us. Both countries should stop digging and look for a way out.

David Lorge Parnas, Ottawa