Global Affairs Canada has issued a statement regarding the arrests of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor in China, stating that the suggestion of espionage involvement will only perpetuate Beijing’s false allegations. This statement came in response to a Globe and Mail article that cited unidentified sources claiming that Mr. Spavor is seeking a multi-million dollar settlement from the Canadian government. The article also alleged that Mr. Kovrig, a former diplomat, gathered intelligence from Mr. Spavor and provided it to the Canadian government. Global Affairs Canada stressed that the arbitrary detention of Mr. Kovrig and Mr. Spavor was unjust and unacceptable, but due to privacy considerations, they cannot provide further information.
Huawei, a Chinese telecom company with close links to the Chinese regime, was founded by a former Chinese military officer. Following the arrest of Ms. Meng, the daughter of Huawei’s founder, in Vancouver at the request of the United States, China detained Mr. Kovrig and Mr. Spavor on charges of espionage. However, Canada has denied these allegations. The two Canadians were not released until Ms. Meng reached a deferred prosecution agreement with U.S. prosecutors and was allowed to leave Canada in September 2021.
At the time of his arrest, Mr. Kovrig was on a leave of absence from the Canadian foreign service and was employed as a scholar with the think tank the International Crisis Group. He had contributed to the Global Security Reporting Program, which collects information on security and stability in select countries using overt diplomatic means. Mr. Spavor, who lived near the China-North Korea border, specialized in promoting tourism and investment in North Korea and had facilitated the friendship between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and former NBA star Dennis Rodman.
Mr. Spavor is represented by high-profile lawyer John K. Phillips and is currently negotiating with lawyers for the federal government over the multi-million dollar settlement request. Mr. Phillips confirmed that his firm has been retained by Mr. Spavor but did not provide any further comments. The Epoch Times has also contacted Mr. Kovrig for comment. During their captivity in China, both Mr. Kovrig and Mr. Spavor were subject to conditions that have been recognized as torture by human rights organizations.
The arrests of the two Canadians came after China warned Canada of “dire consequences” for Ms. Meng’s arrest and escalated the drug charges against Canadian citizen Robert Schellenberg to the death sentence.