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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Former Canadian diplomat detained in China | Former Canadian diplomat detained in China |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A former Canadian diplomat has been detained in China, and his current employer, the International Crisis Group, said it is seeking his prompt and safe release. | |
| Michael Kovrig’s detention comes after police in Canada arrested Huawei’s chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, on 1 December at the request of US authorities, a move that infuriated Beijing. | |
| China-US feud threatens Canada as Huawei executive due in court | China-US feud threatens Canada as Huawei executive due in court |
| It was not immediately clear if the cases were related, but the arrest of Huawei’s CFO in Vancouver has stoked fears of reprisals against the foreign business community in China. | |
| Saying he was “deeply concerned,” the public safety minister, Ralph Goodale, confirmed that a Canadian citizen had been detained in China, but he provided no details on who it was. | Saying he was “deeply concerned,” the public safety minister, Ralph Goodale, confirmed that a Canadian citizen had been detained in China, but he provided no details on who it was. |
| Goodale said there was “no explicit indication at this moment” that the Canadian’s detention was linked to Meng’s arrest. | Goodale said there was “no explicit indication at this moment” that the Canadian’s detention was linked to Meng’s arrest. |
| Meng was due in court on Tuesday on the third day of a bail hearing in Vancouver | Meng was due in court on Tuesday on the third day of a bail hearing in Vancouver |
| “International Crisis Group is aware of reports that its north-east Asia senior adviser, Michael Kovrig, has been detained in China,” the thinktank said in a statement. | “International Crisis Group is aware of reports that its north-east Asia senior adviser, Michael Kovrig, has been detained in China,” the thinktank said in a statement. |
| “We are doing everything possible to secure additional information on Michael’s whereabouts as well as his prompt and safe release,” it added. | “We are doing everything possible to secure additional information on Michael’s whereabouts as well as his prompt and safe release,” it added. |
| The US state department also voiced concern. “The United States is concerned by these reports that a Canadian citizen has been detained in China. We’ve urged China to end all forms of arbitrary detention and to respect the protections and freedoms of all individuals under China’s international human rights and consular commitments,” said spokesman Robert Palladino. | The US state department also voiced concern. “The United States is concerned by these reports that a Canadian citizen has been detained in China. We’ve urged China to end all forms of arbitrary detention and to respect the protections and freedoms of all individuals under China’s international human rights and consular commitments,” said spokesman Robert Palladino. |
| China’s foreign ministry and ministry of public security did not respond immediately to questions faxed earlier about Kovrig’s detention. | China’s foreign ministry and ministry of public security did not respond immediately to questions faxed earlier about Kovrig’s detention. |
| The exact reason for the detention was not immediately clear. | The exact reason for the detention was not immediately clear. |
| The Canadian embassy declined to comment, referring queries to Ottawa. | The Canadian embassy declined to comment, referring queries to Ottawa. |
| Calls to Kovrig’s phones were not answered. | Calls to Kovrig’s phones were not answered. |
| Kovrig, a Mandarin speaker, has been working as a full-time expert for the International Crisis Group since February 2017. | Kovrig, a Mandarin speaker, has been working as a full-time expert for the International Crisis Group since February 2017. |
| From 2003 to 2016, he worked as a diplomat with stints in Beijing and Hong Kong, among others, according to his profile on LinkedIn. | From 2003 to 2016, he worked as a diplomat with stints in Beijing and Hong Kong, among others, according to his profile on LinkedIn. |
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| Asia Pacific | Asia Pacific |
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