TORONTO – Michael Spavor was arrested in China, like Michael Kovrig, in December 2018. The two Canadian citizens were arrested, according to Chinese authorities, for endangering national security, a generic accusation behind which many – or rather almost all – saw a retaliation by Beijing for the arrest by Canada of Meng Wanzhou, crown princess of the Huawei technology empire. This arrest took place at the behest of the United States, where she is wanted on charges of trying to evade U.S. sanctions against Iran.

Since then, water has passed under the bridges, but the two Canadian citizens continue to remain in the cells of Chinese prisons despite sporadic appeals being made for their release. The detention of the two Michaels was called by Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau “completely unacceptable”, “disappointing” and freeing them would be “a priority”. So many fine words. Just as beautiful words were those spoken, in the very recent telephone conversation on August1, by Trudeau and U.S. President Joe Biden. “The leaders demanded the immediate release of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor” but a question arises: in a conversation between them, who would they ask for immediate release?

In June 2020, Trudeau firmly rejected pressure on the government to exchange prisoners — Meng on the one hand, Kovrig and Spavor on the other — saying that accepting could put other Canadians at risk of arbitrary arrests.

And not even Biden – who could have resolved the situation that had originated under the presidency of his predecessor Donald Trump – took the bull by the horns by releasing Whanzhou. This alone was enough to be able to breathe freedom again for Kovrig, a former diplomat who worked for an NGO called International Crisis Group and Spavor, owner of a series of business activities in North Korea: both are accused of espionage.

And then secret trials, revenge, blackmail, cross-arrests, sentences issued in times to say the least suspicious and accusations of “hostage diplomacy”. It is no coincidence that “Lady Huawei”, from her golden residence in Canada is trying these days in every way together with her lawyers to avoid extradition to the United States. The timing, at this point, is not surprising at all. And whether it is retaliation, it is also a given.

The tug-of-war, therefore, continues. In between there are human lives, but it does not matter. Not to mention another Canadian, Robert Schellenberg, who was sentenced to death by the Liaoning court just today. In January 2019, Schellenberg had been sentenced to 15 years in prison for drug trafficking, but suddenly had his sentence commuted to a death penalty.

That since Meng’s arrest, Canada and China have been experiencing a deep and complex diplomatic crisis is no secret. Prime Minister Trudeau, however, does not seem to have been able to deal with the situation and is accused of “weakness”.

Meanwhile, the sad reality is that a Canadian has been sentenced to death for drug trafficking. Two other Canadians – a former diplomat and a businessman – are suspected of espionage. A Chinese heiress is fighting against extradition from Vancouver to the United States. While those who should make their voices heard and put an end to these events are silent.

Pic taken from Facebook