Canadian ex-diplomat’s arrest fuels fears over China relations
● Senior adviser detained in China ● Employer seeks ‘prompt release’
A former Canadian diplomat has been arrested in China in a case that has the potential to further inflame international tensions.
The International Crisis Group said it was aware of reports that its North East Asia senior adviser Michael Kovrig has been detained.
The Brussels-based non-governmental organisation said in a statement it was doing everything possible to obtain additional information about Mr Kovrig’s whereabouts and that it will work to ensure his prompt release.
Canada’s public safety minister Ralph Goodale last night confirmed the arrest, saying the government was sparing no effort to look after Mr Kovrig’s’s safety.
The reports come after China warned Canada there would be consequences for its recent arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou at Vancouver airport. It is unclear yet if there is any link between the cases.
The International Crisis Group said Mr Kovrig has been one of its full-time experts since February last year. He previously worked as a Canadian diplomat in Beijing and Hong Kong between 2012 and 2016, and at the United Nations.
Canada’s Global Affairs department had not commented as of last night.
Former Canadian Liberal Party leader Bob Rae said it was clear why Mr Kovrig had been detained by China, tweeting: “It’s called repression and retaliation.”
Tensions between Canada and China have been high over
the arrest of Meng Wanzhou, Huawei’s chief financial officer and daughter of its founder, on 1 December.
Meng faces extradition to the US on charges of fraud related to sanctions-breaking business dealings with Iran. She could be jailed for up to 30 years if found guilty. China’s foreign minister has vowed to protect its citizens abroad as a Canadian court decided whether to release Meng on bail.
Beijing will “spare no effort” to protect against “any bullying that infringes the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens”, foreign minister Wang Yi said in Shanghai yesterday.
Mr Wang did not mention the Huawei executive, but ministry spokesman Lu Kang said Mr Wang was referring to cases of all Chinese abroad, including Meng.
Her arrest came the same day presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping agreed to a 90-day hiatus in a tariff war over Beijing’s technology policy that threatens global commerce.
The arrest prompted concern that trade talks might be derailed, but Beijing indicated yesterday they were going ahead.
China’s economy czar, vicepremier Liu He, talked by phone with US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuch- in and trade representative Robert Lighthizer about the next round of negotiations, the Ministry of Commerce announced. It gave no details of preparations.
The two governments have tried to keep Meng’s case separate from the trade talks, but jitters among companies and investors have affected global stock markets.
Washington accuses Huawei of using a Hong Kong shell company to sell equipment to Iran in violation of US sanctions. It says Meng and Huawei misled banks about the company’s business dealings in Iran.
Meng’s arrest has set off debate online in China over whether to protest by boycotting Apple, whose iphone is a rival to Huawei’s smartphone brand. Nationalists called for consumers to support Chinese brands, a popular rallying cry in previous conflicts with Japan, the US and South Korea.