Trudeau "very disappointed" with Beijing decision to charge two Canadians with spying

Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau in Ottawa, September 19, 2017. REUTERS / Chris Wattie

Text by: Pascale Guéricolas

The Canadian government says it is "very disappointed" at the Chinese government's decision to accuse Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig of spying. These two Canadians were imprisoned 18 months ago in China, when Canadian authorities arrested number 2 of the Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei, Meng Whanzou, which was making a stopover in Vancouver in December 2018.

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From our correspondent in Quebec,

The charges of espionage which weigh on Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor risk to be worth to them the life prison in China at the time of a next trial.

This situation worries and worries the Prime Minister of Canada. We will continue to be directly engaged with the Chinese government as well as working with our partners, our allies around the world to emphasize how important it is to send the two Michael's back to Canada,  " said Justin Trudeau.

Read also: China: two Canadian nationals formally charged with “spying”

The Leader of the Opposition in Canada considers Justin Trudeau to be naive in his relations with China. He would like, for example, that Canada prohibits Huawei from installing the 5G network here.

“  Mr. Trudeau may have thought that by being nice, the Chinese would be reasonable. The Chinese are not reasonable. It is in their interests. I think we have to understand again that we are dealing with a tyrant, someone who is extremely difficult and then adjust our policy accordingly,  ”comments the former Canadian ambassador to Beijing, Guy Saint-Jacques.

The diplomat therefore invites the Canadian government to strengthen its alliances with countries or groups that ask China to respect international agreements.

► Read also: Canada wants to “restore bridges with China”, in a tense context

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