China confirms two Canadians arrested as Huawei fallout grows

Former diplomat and businessman detained as Canada considers extraditing Chinese executive to the US

China said on Thursday that it had detained two Canadian men, raising the stakes in a three-way dispute over a Chinese technology executive facing possible extradition from Canada to the United States.

Entrepreneur Michael Spavor and former diplomat Michael Kovrig were taken into custody on Monday on suspicion of “engaging in activities that endanger the national security” of China, said foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang.

Mr Lu said Canada had been informed, but did not say whether the men had been provided with lawyers. He said the cases are being handled separately by local bureaux of the national intelligence agency in Beijing, where Mr Kovrig was detained, and north-eastern city Dandong, where Mr Spavor lived. “The legal rights of the two Canadians are being safeguarded,” he said.

The arrests put pressure on Canada, which is holding Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of Huawei. She was arrested on December 1 at the request of the US, which wants her extradited to face bank fraud charges.

Canadian officials have been unable to contact Mr Spavor “since he let us know he was being questioned by Chinese authorities”, said Canada’s global affairs spokesman Guillaume Berube.

“We are working very hard to ascertain his whereabouts and we continue to raise this with the Chinese government.”

Mr Kovrig is an analyst on north-east Asia for the International Crisis Group think tank. He lives in Hong Kong.

Mr Spavor runs tours of North Korea, along with sports, business and other exchanges through his company Paektu Cultural Exchange. He has met leader Kim Jong-un and was instrumental in former NBA star Dennis Rodman’s visit to Pyongyang in 2013.

Acquaintances said Mr Spavor was expected in Seoul on Monday, but failed to arrive.

The detentions echo that of another Canadian, Kevin Garratt, who was detained in 2014 in what was seen as retaliation for Canada’s arrest of a suspected Chinese spy wanted in the US. Garratt was held for 750 days and sentenced to eight years in prison on spying charges, but then deported.

The broadly defined nationalsecurity charge encompasses espionage and other forms of information gathering, such as interviewing dissidents and contacting non-government organisations.

Ms Meng was arrested while changing planes in Vancouver, but has been released on bail.

The US accuses Huawei of using a Hong Kong shell company to deceive banks and do business with Iran in breach of US sanctions.

Hu Xijin, the editor-in-chief of the Global Times, a Communist Party-run tabloid known for its provocative views, warned in a video on Wednesday night of “retaliatory measures” if Canada did not free Ms Meng.

Canada has asked China for extra security at its embassy because of protests and antiCanadian sentiment and has advised foreign service staff to take precautions, a senior Canadian official said.

The US and China have emphasised that trade talks are separate from Ms Meng’s case, although US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he would intervene if it would help produce a deal.

The suggestion Ms Meng could be a political pawn makes the situation more awkward for Canada.

Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said it was “quite obvious” any foreign country requesting extradition should ensure “the process is not politicised”.

Also on Thursday, a Ministry of Commerce spokesman said Chinese and US officials were in “close contact” over the trade dispute, but gave no date for face-to-face talks.

We are working very hard to ascertain Mr Spavor’s whereabouts and we continue to raise this with the Chinese government GUILLAUME BERUBE Canadian global affairs spokesman