China continues to investigate Canadian ‘spies’

More than two years in Chinese prison, two Canadian men are being brought to trial. Michael Spear is scheduled to appear in court on Friday in Dandong, near the North Korean border. Canadian Foreign Minister Mark Carnegie announced Thursday that the case against Michael Gowrik will be in Beijing on Monday. Both have been accused of spying by China.

Both Michaels, as they know, were arrested in December 2018 in China. This came shortly after the arrest of Meng Wanshou, a top woman in Hawaii, a telecommunications company in Canada. China denies any arrests.

Meng was arrested at the request of US law enforcement on suspicion that he and Hawaii were avoiding sanctions against Iran. A Canadian judge has not yet decided whether to extradite him to the United States. Meng, who has denied the allegations, is under house arrest in Vancouver.

Lawyers and diplomats are denied access

Michael Spear was a businessman and organizer of trips to North Korea until his arrest. Michael Gowrick served as the Chinese expert on the International Crisis Group Think Tank. Apart from the Chinese allegations, nothing is known about the spying activities of the two Canadians. The two men’s relations are concerned about their treatment in prison and the lack of access to lawyers and Canadian ambassadors.

Corneo calls the two ‘arbitrary’ arrests and says he is seriously concerned about the ‘lack of transparency’ surrounding the proceedings. In China, more than 99 percent of suspects who come to court are convicted. Access to the media and the public is very limited, especially in matters of attention.

Top in Alaska

News of the lawsuits against Spear and Gowrik comes ahead of the first summit between China and President Joe Biden’s new US administration. Foreign Minister Anthony Blingen and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan will hold talks with top Chinese ambassadors Wang Yi and Yang Jiechi in Alaska on Thursday.

A spokesman for Secretary-General Wang said Thursday that the summit in Alaska had nothing to do with the agenda of the case against the two Canadians in Beijing. It’s about a ‘high level strategic dialogue’. Meanwhile, on the US side, expectations around Alaska are mild, according to Blinken, ‘not even strategic dialogue’, and no plans for meetings.

Klingendale’s Chinese expert Franz-Paul van der Putten said earlier this week Loyal That his expectations were not high. “Alaska will not be a turning point,” says Van der Puten. He expects Blingen to continue the tough path to China that began under former President Trump.

According to him, the meeting is an opportunity for both countries to explore what can and cannot be discussed. For example, trade disputes between China and the United States will be discussed, as will tensions in the South China Sea and the situation around Taiwan.

Biden rejected an agreement around two Michaels and released them in exchange for US concessions to China. In a telephone conversation with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last month, the president said it was “not a means to an end.”

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