Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said he hoped to receive “good news” concerning the two Canadian citizens that have been held in “arbitrary detention” in China for two years.
Michael Kovrig, a one time diplomat who worked as a Senior Advisor for the International Crisis Group, and Michael Spavor, and businessman were first detained on December 10, 2018 on charges related to spying.
Their arrest occurred days after a top executive for Chinese tech company Huawei, Meng Wanzhou, was detained in Vancouver on a US warrant. Ties between Ottawa and Beijing have since ebbed.
While talking to a press conference, Trudeausaid: “We will continue to pursue every avenue to bring the two Michaels home as soon as possible.
“And I remain hopeful to get good news — an hour from now, a day from now, a week from now, a month from now.
“This will be the third Christmas that Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor spend in arbitrary detention in China.”
Meng has been in a two-year fight against extradition over charges Huawei contravened US sanctions on Iran.
There are reports of a possible “deferred prosecution agreement” with the United States Justice Department that had increased hopes that the case could still be settled and Spavor and Kovrig would be released.
