Diplomatic tension: China sentences Canadians to 11 years in prison

A Chinese court has sentenced Canadian Spavor to eleven years in prison for espionage. Canada is looking into the case in relation to a Huawei manager who is arrested in Canada and speaks of arbitrariness.

Eleven years in prison for espionage and unlawful disclosure of state secrets – that’s what the verdict against Michael Spavor is. Details not given. The Canadian businessman’s trial was largely closed to the public.

At least Canada’s ambassador to China, Dominic Barton, was allowed to appear at the verdict in a court in the northern Chinese city of Dandong. He then turned to international journalists over a video link. “We strongly condemn the court’s decision,” Barton said. The court proceedings were not based on the rule of law and were completely non-transparent.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also sharply criticized the decision. He again described the imprisonment of Michael Spavor as “arbitrary”, as did the captivity of Michael Kovrig of Canada, who is also in prison in China for lesser reasons.

Canadian Pledge?

According to Western governments, the “two Michaels” cases, as repeatedly referred to by diplomats and the Canadian media, are politically motivated. That’s why they are associated with the Meng Wanzhou case. The chief financial officer of controversial Chinese technology conglomerate Huawei was arrested in Vancouver, Canada in December 2018 on a US arrest warrant and placed under house arrest.

A few days later, Chinese police arrested businessman Spavor, who was sentenced today, and his compatriot Kovrig. The Canadian government has accused China’s communist leadership of wanting to free a Huawei manager who is under house arrest along with the two Michaels. Accordingly, Canada and several other states accuse China’s leadership of “hostage justice” and “hostage diplomacy”.

Warning against arbitrary arrest

Once again, several countries expressed their support for Canada: ambassadors and envoys from 25 Western democracies came to the Canadian embassy in Beijing that morning to express their solidarity with Spavor. Among them was Frank Ruckert, the head of the German embassy in China.

Due to the proceedings against Spavor and Kovrig, many countries are now warning their citizens about the risk of arbitrary arrest in China. Guide Jensen, chair of the Bundestag Committee for Human Rights, urged that Germany should officially do the same.

“We should be interested in these matters because it may eventually affect German citizens as well. It is therefore essential that the federal government at least inform German citizens that arbitrary arrests are likely in China,” said the FDP politician ard.

Media is silent on the verdict

Following the verdict, the Canadian ambassador had little time to speak to Spavor today. “I told him about the great international support and he gave me three messages to take out: first: thanks for the support, second: I’m in good spirits and third: I want to go home.”

The entirely state-controlled media in China today largely ignored the court’s ruling against Spavor. The official statement of the competent court in Dandong City is of two and a half lines.