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Third Canadian detained in China: report
BEIJING, Dec 19, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – A third Canadian citizen has been
detained in China, a Canadian newspaper reported Wednesday, amid a diplomatic
spat between Beijing and Ottawa over the arrest of a Chinese telecom
executive.
Canada’s foreign ministry said it was “aware of a Canadian citizen” having
been detained, according to the National Post, which cited a ministry
spokesperson.
The spokesperson did not provide further details and did not suggest that
the detention was linked to the arrest of Huawei chief financial officer Meng
Wanzhou, the report said.
Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular press
briefing that she had “not heard” about the reported detention.
The recent detentions of two Canadians has raised suspicions that Beijing
is holding them in retaliation for Meng’s December 1 arrest, though no link
has officially been made between the cases.
Meng was released on bail last week in Vancouver pending a US extradition
hearing on US fraud charges related to sanctions-breaking business dealings
with Iran.
China has accused the other detainees — former Canadian diplomat Michael
Kovrig and China-based business consultant Michael Spavor — of activities
“that endanger China’s national security”.
They were both detained on December 10.
Kovrig is a Hong Kong-based senior adviser at the International Crisis
Group think tank, while Spavor facilitates trips to North Korea and helped
former NBA star Dennis Rodman travel to the neighbouring country.
Beijing has threatened Canada with “grave consequences” if Meng is not
freed and Chinese state-run media has lashed out at the arrest, saying it was
politically motivated.
Ottawa has repeatedly said the arrest was not political but rather a
judicial process in keeping with an extradition treaty with Washington.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 1544 hrs