Ex-Canadian diplomat detained in China
OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government has contacted Chinese authorities about the detention of a former Canadian diplomat in China at a time of tensions between the two countries.
Trudeau spoke briefly to reporters Tuesday about the unexplained case of Michael Kovrig, an international-affairs analyst who worked as a political lead for the prime minister’s official visit to Hong Kong in 2016 when he was posted there by the Canadian government.
“We have been in direct contact with … Chinese diplomats and representatives,” Trudeau said. “We are engaged on the file, which we take very seriously and we are, of course, providing consular assistance to the family.”
News of Kovrig’s detention comes after China warned Canada of consequences for its arrest of Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou at Vancouver’s airport. A judge released her on bail and under strict conditions Tuesday afternoon.
It’s unclear whether there is any link between the two cases, though a former Canadian ambassador says he has little doubt of it.
“It’s clear that China is trying to put as much pressure as possible on the Canadian government to force us to return Ms. Meng to China,” said Guy Saint-Jacques, a career diplomat who was Canada’s ambassador to China from 2012 to 2016. “I can tell you that based on my 13 years of experience in China, there are no coincidences. … The Chinese government wanted to send us a message.”
Saint-Jacques said Kovrig wanted to stay in China beyond his assignment. “At the end of his posting, he told me he loved China, he loved the Chinese people,” Saint-Jacques said. He said he advised Kovrig to take an unpaid leave from the diplomatic corps so he could return to it someday if he wanted to.
Kovrig has been working for the International Crisis Group since February 2017 as its senior adviser for northeast Asia. One of his colleagues wrote in a short email that the organization had few details about his detention.
“We are doing everything possible to secure additional information on Michael’s whereabouts as well as his prompt and safe release,” said a statement from the group, which states its goals are to prevent wars and help shape policies to promote peace.
Kovrig made headlines in August 2006. While he was a public-affairs officer at the Canadian mission to the UN, Kovrig surprised his girlfriend with a marriage proposal after luring her into the empty UN General Assembly hall. His girlfriend, who grew up in Afghanistan, said yes.