BEIJING (AP) – Two Canadians arrested two years ago in a case involving a Huawei executive have been charged and put on trial, China’s foreign ministry said Thursday, but gave no details.
The shutdown comes just days after former diplomat Michael Kovirig and businessman Michael Spawar, the founder of the Chinese telecommunications giant, were arrested just days after Canada detained Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou on December 10, 2018.
Asked about the Canadians at the daily briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said the two had been “arrested, charged and prosecuted”, the first time they had been publicly brought to court.
China’s public prosecutors made the announcement earlier this year K. Kovirig was charged with state secrets and intelligence espionage, and Spovor was charged with espionage for a foreign entity and illegally supplying state secrets.
Neither China nor Canada has commented on their cases.
Canada detained Meng at the request of the United States, which is seeking his extradition to face charges of fraud.
Hua said his case and the Canadian people were “different by nature”, with Meng being a “complete political phenomenon”. Nevertheless, China has consistently linked the fate of both Canadians to its demand that Meng be released immediately.
Canadian Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne issues One line Marking the occasion of his two-year imprisonment on Wednesday, he said: “These two Canadians are a full priority for our government, and we will work tirelessly to get them released quickly and to stand up for them as government and as Canadians.”
“I am impressed by the honesty and strength of character shown by both, as they endure many hardships that shake one’s faith in humanity,” Champagne said.
Meng’s arrest has severely damaged relations between Canada and China, leading to the death penalty for two other Canadians and the suspension of canola imports from Canada.
Fisher Meng, chief financial officer of Huawei Technologies, lives in a luxury Vancouver home while his extradition case is pending in a British Columbia court. The United States has accused Huawei of using Hong Kong’s shell company to defraud banks and colluding with Iran. Trades to violate sanctions.
It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post. However, the Canadian ambassador to China testified before a House committee this week that he was “strong.”
Canadian diplomats were denied all entry from January to October due to coronavirus citations cited on the Chinese side of the two men. Visits to the site were banned and virtual visits were not allowed.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has described China’s approach as “tremendous diplomacy”, spoke to US President-elect Joe Biden last month about the two men’s affair and said he expects good partners to persuade him to release Biden. Will happen.
The Canadian Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment on Hua’s comments.
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