Canada given consular access to detained entrepreneur
CANADA’S ambassador to China was given access yesterday to detained Canadian entrepreneur Michael Spavor, six days after he was arrested, the country’s global affairs department said.
John Mccallum also met former diplomat Michael Kovrig on Friday.
“Canadian consular officials continue to provide consular services to him and his family and will continue to seek further access to Mr Spavor,” a statement from Global Affairs Canada said.
Both men were detained in China last Monday in apparent retaliation for the arrest of a top Chinese tech executive on behalf of the United States.
Mr Mccallum served as a diplomat in China until 2016 and has been working for the International Crisis Group, a non-governmental agency. China says he was arrested for harming its national security.
Canada arrested Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou on December 1 on US charges that she misled banks about the company’s business dealings in Iran.
Canada gave Huawei chief financial officer Meng, daughter of the telecom giant’s founder, access to Chinese consular staff on the day she was arrested and three days of public hearings before releasing her on bail.
Members of Vancouver’s large Chinese community who went to court to show their support cheered her release.
By contrast, the Chinese secretly detained the two Canadians on suspicions of “engaging in activities that endanger the national security of China”. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called the detention of the Canadian citizens unlawful and said they should be released.
Entrepreneur Spavor is known for his contacts in China with highranking North Korean officials, including leader Kim Jong-un, with whom he has been photographed shaking hands and laughing.
He was instrumental in taking NBA player Dennis Rodman to Pyongyang in 2013 and has organised a number of tours and projects with the reclusive country since then.
In 2015, Mr Spavor founded Paektu Cultural Exchange, a non-governmental organisation that works to facilitate sports, cultural, tourism and business exchanges with North Korea. Its mission statement says it aims to “promote greater peace, friendship and understanding”.