China on the attack, Canada powerless

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.