(CNN) A Canadian citizen who was detained in China earlier this month has been released and is back in Canada according to Richard Walker, spokesman for Global Affairs Canada.

The citizen, Sarah McIver, was detained due to a work permit issue related to her teaching job, CNN affiliate CTV reported.

Global Affairs Canada declined to provide any further information about McIver's return to Canada.

McIver was the third Canadian to be taken into custody in China. Her detention was confirmed by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on December 19, who said at the time that the detention was more "routine" than the previous two cases.

He denied the detention was linked to Canada's arrest of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou.

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