Second Canadian citizen goes on trial in China over Huawei spat

People in Vancouver hold signs calling for China to release Canadian detainees Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig

Credit: LINDSEY WASSON /REUTERS

A second Canadian citizen who has been detained in China for more than two years – in apparent retaliation after Canada arrested a Huawei tech executive – was put on trial in Beijing on Monday in a closed-door hearing.

The trial for Michael Kovrig, an analyst and former diplomat, ended after one day with the court saying it would "choose a date to announce the verdict in accordance with the law."

Mr Kovrig and his lawyer were present in the court, the statement said, for the case of "spying on state secrets and intelligence for foreign powers."

The trial followed a separate hearing on Friday for Canadian businessman Michael Spavor, which also ended with no verdict.

Canadian diplomats were barred access to hearings for Mr Kovrig and Mr Spavor, with Chinese courts citing alleged national security concerns. 

Diplomats from 26 other countries, including the US, UK, Australia, and European nations, still chose to wait outside the courthouse in Beijing in a show of support.

William Klein (behind R), the acting deputy chief of mission at the US Embassy in Beijing, and Jim Nickel (front R), the charge d'affaires of the Canadian embassy in Beijing, speak to the media in Beijing after being refused access to the trial of Michael Kovrig

Credit: NICOLAS ASFOURI /AFP

“Michael Kovrig has been detained for more than two years now. He’s been arbitrarily detained and now we see that the court process itself is not transparent,” said Jim Nickel, the Canadian Embassy’s deputy chief of mission, outside the courthouse. 

Verdicts have not yet been announced for Mr Kovrig and Mr Spavor.

The two were first detained in December 2018, days after Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou was arrested at the Vancouver airport by Canadian authorities, acting on a US extradition request. 

Mr Kovrig and Mr Spavor have been held since then, widely seen as Beijing’s attempt to pressure Canada to release Ms Meng, who faces fraud charges in the US relating to Huawei’s business dealing with Iran, violating US sanctions.

Beijing considers Ms Meng’s arrest – and decisions by Western governments to ban Huawei from 5G mobile networks over security concerns – moves by the West to slow the rise of China.

Justin Trudeau, Canada’s prime minister, blasted Beijing last week for holding the trials “in secret.”

“Their arbitrary detention is completely unacceptable, as is the lack of transparency around these court proceedings,” said Mr Trudeau.

“China needs to understand that it is not just about two Canadians. It’s about respect for the rule of law and relationships with a broad range of Western countries that are at play with the arbitrary detention and the coercive diplomacy that they’ve engaged in.”