Trudeau, Canadian Prime Minister: "China's Prosecution of Canadians is Political Retaliation"

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] Canada strongly opposed China's prosecution of two Chinese nationals detained in China on espionage charges, calling it political retaliation.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said at a press conference on the 19th (local time) that he was "extremely disappointed." He urged their release and mentioned that the Chinese government is detaining two Canadians out of frustration over Canada's independent judicial process regarding Vice Chairman Meng.

The People's Procuratorate of Dandong City, Liaoning Province, China, announced that it had charged Canadian national and North Korea businessman Michael Spavor with "spying on state secrets for a foreign country and illegally providing them." The Second Branch of the Beijing Municipal People's Procuratorate also announced that it had charged former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig with "spying on state secrets and information for a foreign country."

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

They were arrested by Chinese authorities nine days after Canada detained Meng Wanzhou, vice chairwoman of Chinese telecommunications company Huawei, in December 2018, raising speculation that this was retaliation by China.

Vice Chairwoman Meng is continuing her trial after receiving an unfavorable decision regarding extradition to the United States at a Canadian court hearing on the 27th of last month.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.