China formally arrests two Canadian citizens for endangering national security after holding them in detention for months amid diplomatic tensions over Huawei
- Michael Kovrig, a former diplomat, is accused of scouting national secrets
- Michael Spavor, a China-based businessman, is said to have stolen intelligence
- Both worked for overseas entities, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs alleged
- Beijing previously accused the pair of working together to spy on China
China has formally arrested two Canadian citizens for endangering the country’s national security after detaining them late last year.
Michael Kovrig, a former diplomat, is accused of scouting Chinese national secrets and intelligence for overseas entities.
While Michael Spavor, a China-based businessman who organised trips to North Korea, is said to have stolen Chinese national secrets and provided the information to overseas entities.
Michael Kovrig (pictured), a former Canadian diplomat, was detained in China on December 10
Michael Spavor (pictured) is a China-based businessman who organised trips to North Korea
They are both accused of working for overseas entities, said a spokesperson of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs today.
The spokesperson, Lu Kang, said Kovrig and Spavor were formally arrested ‘recently’ without giving further details at a daily press briefing, according to China’s state-run Global Times.