China accuses detained Canadians of stealing state secrets

China accused former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig of spying and said countryman Michael Spavor assisted him, in cases widely seen as retaliation for Canada’s arrest of a senior Huawei Technologies Inc. executive.

This is likely to further ramp up tension between Ottawa and Beijing.

The details of the case against them were issued in a statement carried by the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, a leading law-enforcement body on its microblog.

An investigation by Chinese authorities found that Kovrig “stole and spied on China’s sensitive information and intelligence,” according to a brief report Monday on a website from the Communist Party’s Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission,

“Spavor was Kovrig’s main contact and provided him with intelligence,” the commission added, without giving details.

Kovrig severely violated Chinese laws, and China will start the next judicial proceedings in due course, it said.

“China is a country with rule of law and will firmly crack down on criminal acts that severely undermine national security.”

While Canada says China has made no specific link between the detentions and Meng’s arrest, experts and former diplomats say they have no doubt it is using the cases of the two men to pressure Canada.

Kovrig works for the International Crisis Group (ICG), which focuses on conflict resolution and has denied any involvement in espionage.

Canadian diplomats have been allowed to see the two men. However, sources familiar with the case have said Kovrig has not been allowed access to lawyers or family members, unlike Huawei’s Meng.

It is not clear what conditions Spavor is being held in.

China has said it is fully guaranteeing both men’s lawful rights.

Kovrig also holds Hungarian citizenship.

Businessman Spavor and former diplomat Kovrig were picked up in early December, shortly after Canada arrested Huawei Technologies Co Ltd executive Meng Wanzhou, who faces extradition to the United States.

China has repeatedly demanded Meng be released and reacted angrily last week when Canada’s government approved extradition proceedings against her.