Kovrig, a former diplomat who is now a think tank scholar, was detained in China in 2018 for more than 1,000 days along with fellow Canadian Michael Spavor as part of Beijing’s retaliation tactics for the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver

Beijing arrested Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig in 2018 to gain the release of Huawei’s chief financial officer. Moscow arrested basketball star Brittney Griner in 2022 and journalist Evan Gershkovich in 2023.

The "Two Michaels" refers to Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, who were being detained in China at the time in apparent retaliation of the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wangzhou in Canada based on a U.S. extradition request.

In retaliation, China banned Canadian canola imports, restricted pork and beef imports, and detained two Canadian citizens (Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor) in what was widely viewed as hostage diplomacy.

In apparent retaliation, China detained Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor for more than 1,000 days.

Trade Relationships Smith noted Canada’s relationship with China has not returned to the state it was in before the arbitrary detention of Canadian citizens Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor by Beijing, which spanned from 2018 to 2021.

China’s influence operations have “faced significant pushback” at the national level in Canada after China detained Canadian citizens Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor in 2018, as well as the discovery of overseas Chinese police stations and electoral

Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor stand as they are recognized before an address from U.S. President Joe Biden in the Canadian House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Canada, on March 24, 2023.

Relations between Ottawa and Beijing soured at the end of 2018 after the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wangzhou on a U.S. extradition warrant, with Beijing arbitrarily detaining Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor in apparent retaliation.

Kovrig and fellow Canadian Michael Spavor were detained by China in 2018 and held for more than 1,000 days, accused of spying in a case the Canadian government said was as a bogus effort to pressure Canada to release Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou.

Elected mayor in 2018, West has been a vocal critic of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), including its arbitrary detention of Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, who were kept in captivity for 1,019 days in retaliation for the arrest of Huawei

She noted that Canada “should have learned painful lessons” from past engagement with Beijing, including the arbitrary detention of Canadian citizens Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, interference in Canadian elections, intimidation of Chinese Canadian

Kovrig, who is now a think tank scholar, was detained in China in 2018 for more than 1,000 days along with fellow Canadian Michael Spavor as part of Beijing’s retaliation tactics for the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver due to a U.S

“I raised the status of Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig and called for their immediate release,” he wrote. “At every opportunity before they returned home, I adamantly demanded their release to Canada without delay.

Kovrig said support from Canadian consular officials and the public buoyed him during his detention in China, where he and fellow Canadian Michael Spavor were arrested in December 2018.

Dong of giving advice to the Chinese consul general in Toronto about the detention of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor. Mr. Dong has denied the allegations against him and sued Global News for defamation.

Following her arrest, Chinese authorities detained two Canadians—Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor—and accused them of spying. The move was widely seen as a tactic often used by Beijing known as “hostage diplomacy.” They were released after Ms.

A March 22 Global News report cited anonymous national security sources saying that in February 2021, Dong advised Han Tao, Chinese consul-general in Toronto, to delay the release of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor.

The character Jim reflects real-life figures like Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor—individuals who became unwitting sacrifices in the CCP’s geopolitical manoeuvres.

Dong was a "witting affiliate" in China’s election interference networks, and that he had advised a senior Chinese diplomat in February 2021 that Beijing should not release Canadian citizens Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, who were arbitrarily detained

Cong's tenure coincided with the arrest of Huawei senior executive Meng Wanzhou and Beijing's retaliatory detention of Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor.

In apparent retaliation, China arbitrarily detained Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor and kept them in custody for over 1,000 days.

The problem began after the 2018 detention of Canadian citizens Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig who were taken into custody in China after the arrest of Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou in Canada. Mr.

Foreign Interference Ottawa-Beijing relations have soured in recent years following the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in 2018 and China's retaliatory detention of Canadian citizens Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor.

In apparent retaliation, Beijing detained Kovrig and fellow Canadian Michael Spavor days later on espionage charges, which both men denied.

A man holds a sign with photographs of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, who have been detained in China since December 2018, as people gather for a rally in Vancouver in support of Hong Kong democracy on Aug. 16, 2020.

A renowned case is Beijing's retaliatory arrests of former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor in 2018, immediately following Canada's arrest of Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou at the request of the United States

China in apparent retaliation arbitrarily detained Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor for over 1,000 days.

Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, who were arbitrarily detained in China for over three years, received a standing ovation in the House of Commons ahead of U.S. President Joe Biden's address on March 24.

Former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig, who was detained in China in 2018 for more than 1,000 days along with fellow Canadian Michael Spavor following Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou’s arrest in Vancouver, has expressed a similar view, saying that Canada