Canada's NDP

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June 19th, 2020

Liberal government must stand up for Canadian detainees

Earlier today, NDP Critic for Foreign Affairs Jack Harris made the following statement:

"It is extremely concerning to learn that China has charged Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor with espionage after being arbitrarily detaining them 'on suspicion' for over 550 days in obvious retaliation for the legal arrest of Meng Wanzhou and now the unfavourable, but independent, court decision recently issued in Vancouver.

"This kind of retaliatory "hostage diplomacy" has no place in a rules-based international system.

"It is not enough for the Liberal government to say they are advocating for their release. China must be told that this behavior is unacceptable, and Canada needs to rally the support of like-minded nations to pursue a common strategy to put meaningful pressure on China to end to this practice and to release Mr. Kovrig and Mr. Spavor."