This archive report was first published on 19 June 2020.
On June 19, 2020, China's punitive campaign against Canada intensified as Chinese officials announced the indictment of two Canadians, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, on charges of espionage.
The two men, a former diplomat and a business consultant, were detained in 2018 after Canada arrested the chief financial officer of Huawei, Meng Wanzhou, at the request of the United States.
According to Chinese court officials, Mr. Kovrig was indicted in Beijing on charges of espionage, while Mr. Spavor was indicted in Dandong, a northeastern city, on charges of espionage and providing state secrets abroad.
Human rights groups have denounced the indictments, with Yaqiu Wang, a China researcher at Human Rights Watch, calling the Chinese government's treatment of the two men
