This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

The two Canadian citizens detained in China on espionage allegations have been formally arrested, in a move likely to further chill relations between the two countries.

Chinese officials have accused Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor with stealing state secrets for a foreign organisation, a serious allegation which in its most extreme cases can result in the death penalty.

For months, Canada has called for the release of Kovrig and Spavor, decrying what officials say are flimsy accusations against the two men.

Kovrig, a former diplomat, and Spavor, an entrepreneur who frequently led tours to North Korea, were both detained by Chinese officials in December last year. For months, the pair have been held in a detention facility without access to a lawyer and been granted a single consular visit per month. There is no indication when the two will be formally charged or go on trial.

“Canada strongly condemns their arbitrary arrest as we condemned their arbitrary detention on December 10,” said Canada’s foreign affairs department in a statement on Thursday. “We reiterate our demand that China immediately release Mr Kovrig and Mr Spavor.”

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The formal arrests of the two are widely seen as retaliation for Canada’s apprehension of Huawei’s CFO Meng Wanzhou at Vancouver airport on 1 December. The telecoms executive is fighting extradition proceedings to the US, where American officials allege she committed fraud. China immediately called for her release following the arrest and closely watched court appearances.

Amid pressure from Beijing, Ottawa has repeatedly stated that Canada’s justice system is immune from political interference.

On Thursday, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman deployed similar language to rebut Canada’s frustrations over the arrests of Kovrig and Spavor.

“We always act in accordance with the law, and we hope that Canada will not make irresponsible remarks on China’s legal construction and judicial handling,” said Lu Kang at a news conference.

The escalation of charges against Spavor and Kovrig are the latest in a growing list of hostile actions taken by the Chinese government against Canada. Robert Schellenberg, a Canadian citizen, is facing the death penalty for allegations of drug smuggling – a charge that was reapplied following the arrest of Meng. China has also taken aim at Canada’s multibillion-dollar canola industry, effectively closing off all imports of the Canadian rapeseed oil.

In recent weeks, Canada has increased pressure on its allies to assist the two men. On 9 May, Canada’s prime minister, Justin Trudeau, spoke with the US president, Donald Trump, about “relations with China, including the arbitrary detention of two Canadian citizens in China and Canada’s ongoing efforts to secure their release”, the prime minister’s office said in a statement.

The US, however, remained locked in tense negotiations with China. On Wednesday night, Trump signed an executive order declaring an economic national emergency – a move that effectively bars Huawei’s telecommunications technology from the country.