China Charges 2 Canadians With Spying After Arrest Of Top Huawei Executive Meng Wanzhou

(L-R) Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, two Canadians who were detained in China following the arrest of Meng Wanzhou in Canada on a U.S. extradition request. AP photo

China has formally charged two Canadians with spying more than 18 months after they were first arrested, officials said June 19, in a move that has widely been viewed as politically motivated.

The People’s Procuratorate of Beijing Municipality filed a prosecution against former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig on Friday for “spying on state secrets and intelligence.” Canadian businessman Michael Spavor was charged by The People’s Procuratorate of Dandong for “spying on and illegally providing state secrets.”