Michael Kovrig, a Canadian formerly detained in China, is calling on governments to have co-ordinated sanctions and travel bans on states who arrest foreigners for political reasons, through an effort Canada is co-leading to stop countries from feeling emboldened. Michael Spavor, centre left, and Kovrig, centre left, receive a standing ovation in the House of Commons prior to U.S. President Joe Biden's address of Parliament, in Ottawa, Friday, March 24, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
OTTAWA – A Canadian man who was held in China for nearly three years is calling on governments around the world to co-ordinate sanctions and travel bans on states that arrest foreigners for political reasons.
Michael Kovrig says support from Canadian consular officials and the public buoyed him during his detention in China, where he and fellow Canadian Michael Spavor were arrested in December 2018.
China was widely viewed to have detained the men in retaliation for arrest of Chinese tech executive Meng Wanzhou days earlier at the Vancouver airport on a U.S. extradition warrant.
They were brought home to Canada the same day Meng returned to China after reaching a deferred prosecution agreement with the U.S.
Canada is leading an effort alongside the United States, Malawi and Costa Rica to stop countries from feeling emboldened to pursue arbitrary detention for political leverage.
Speaking at a United Nations forum the Trudeau government organized, Kovrig says that effort should also help countries document cases and share guidance with countries facing this situation for the first time.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 21, 2023.
