China Accuses Detained Canadians Kovrig, Spavor of Stealing State Secrets

Michael Kovrig, a former Canadian diplomat, has been accused by the Chinese regime of stealing state secrets. International Crisis Group

TORONTO—China has accused detained Canadian citizens Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor of acting together to steal state secrets, an announcement that comes just days after Canada said it will proceed with a U.S. extradition request against a Huawei executive.

In a statement online, the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission (PLAC) accused Spavor of passing on intelligence to Kovrig. They allege Kovrig used a regular passport and business visas to enter China for “stealing and spying on sensitive Chinese information and intelligence via a contact in China.”