CBC/Reuters: China formally arrests Spavor and Kovrig, accuses them of spying
Michael Spavor, Michael Kovrig have been detained in China for months
Chinese authorities have formally arrested two Canadians and are accusing them of crimes related to national security, likely further increasing tension between Ottawa and Beijing.
Businessman Michael Spavor, who worked with North Korea, and former diplomat Michael Kovrig were picked up separately in December, shortly after Canada arrested Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver. She now faces extradition to the United States.
China has repeatedly demanded Meng be released, and has reacted angrily to extradition proceedings against her in a Canadian court.
Under Chinese law, officials can detain people for up to six months, meaning Beijing had until June 10 to act.
Read more ....
Update #1: China charges detained Canadians with espionage hours after U.S. bans Huawei (National Post/Washington Post)
Update #2: China formally arrested Canadians detained for months following Huawei CFO’s arrest in December (Toronto Star)
WNU Editor: Canada's response to differences with China has been to minimize it .... Canada will take ‘measured approach’ on possible U.S. ban of Huawei: Morneau (Global News). As a Canadian who has a long history with China I think this is a mistake, and it sends the wrong message to Beijing. If I was advising the Canadian government, I will be telling them that these Canadians are not going to be released, that they are going to be in jail for years, and that normal diplomacy is not going to work. Now is the time to take the gloves off, and these are steps that should be employed in a timely manner. The first thing that I would do is expel the Chinese Ambassador to Canada (the same Ambassador who accused Canada of "white supremacy"), and to severely limit Beijing's diplomatic staff in Canada. I would also expel every Chinese national in Canada who is suspected of working for China's state security apparatus, a list of individuals that I would not be surprised if Canada already has. The second thing that I would advise Ottawa is to ban Huawei and other related Chinese technology companies. The third thing that I would recommend is putting tariffs on Chinese products, and to limit Chinese work visas. The fourth and last thing will be to raise this issue in every international forum, and to position the Chinese in losing face. Will be there be blow-back from China .... the answer is yes. But if Canada cannot stand on principles that it values, and protect Canadian citizens abroad, then what do we stand for?
6 comments:
That's a Trumpian response for Trudeau. He'd rather eat fresh cow pies.
It would behoove any business person from the US or Canada to think very carefully on how important that trip to China really is.
EDITOR
The Chinese will have no respect for weakness. I agree with the measures you suggest however, where will it go from there? When I look around my house and in the stores, in particular the US stores located in Canada, I see China everywhere and that does not include electronic components hidden inside products from other Asian countries and maybe some in the USA.
This is something that not only can be reversed, but will be. Just 15 years ago it was Japan and German products. Customers have spoken. They don't want the Chinese products because of often inferior quality, despite blatantly trying to copy what nations a tenth of their size or even smaller do apparently better. On top most of consumers do not want to buy Chinese goods for their abhorrent business practices, ignorance of law and terrible human rights record with about a million Muslims in concentration camps - right this moment. BUT you need to give consumers a choice. If you only put one high end product from say USA and 3-4 Chinese choices at lower price and quality range, and on top have decades of politics driven by short sightedness about the unique value of physical goods - especially in technology and engineering - then of course toy cannot properly compete with China.
Just my opinion and experience of living, doing business in asia Europe and the US for a few decades.
Not "toy" but "you" ..damn phone ^_^
Bob cannot undertake to start as an individual to change his supply chain through delayed purchases (gratification), writing Public affairs of companies or attending stock holder meetings, or finding alternatives.
Anyone buying a iPhone every year ore 2 years is part of the problem.
You could by a Korean or Japanese made phone or delay purchasing a replacement until the 3 or 4 year instead if every year.
Poor bob. Poor woe is me bob. Poor Bob who is always beaten and can never take action on his own or advocate any action other than defeat.
Post a Comment