The government of Canada has reached a financial settlement with one of two Canadian men who were arbitrarily detained by China for nearly three years in a retaliatory move, the man’s lawyer confirmed.
Michael Spavor, a businessman with extensive dealings in North Korea, and Michael Kovrig, a Canadian diplomat working for a foreign policy analysis group, were arrested in China in December 2018 on charges of spying. Their detentions were seen as retribution for Canada’s arrest of Meng Wanzhou, the chief financial officer of Huawei, at the request of the United States.
After being released in September 2021 as part of a deal that allowed Meng to return to China, the two men sought a settlement from the Canadian government. While the exact amount of the settlement remains undisclosed, reports suggest it is around 6 million Canadian dollars.
The arrests of Spavor and Kovrig highlighted China’s willingness to use arrests and lengthy prison sentences as leverage in diplomatic disputes. Despite efforts by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to improve relations with China, the detentions strained the relationship between the two countries.
Both men have denied involvement in espionage, with Spavor accusing Kovrig of inadvertently causing his detention by sharing information about North Korea with Canadian intelligence agencies. Spavor was sentenced to 11 years in prison in August 2021, while Kovrig was awaiting sentencing at the time of his return to Canada.
The settlement talks were conducted privately, and little public information is available about the negotiations. However, both men have expressed their desire to move on from the ordeal and start a new chapter in their lives.
The Canadian government has condemned China’s actions as unjust and unacceptable, emphasizing its commitment to supporting Spavor and Kovrig as they recover from their traumatic experience. Global Affairs Canada released a statement acknowledging the suffering caused by the men’s arbitrary detention and reaffirming its dedication to helping them move forward.
