INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Image copyrightAFPImage caption
Michael Spavor (L) and Michael Kovrig have been held since December
China has accused two Canadians of spying, as tensions between the nations grow over the possible extradition of a Huawei executive to the
US.Michael Kovrig, a former diplomat, and Michael Spavor, a businessman, were detained in December after Meng Wanzhou was arrested in Canada
on suspicion of fraud and breaching sanctions on Iran.Ms Meng is suing Canada over her arrest, which was made at the request of the US.China
has condemned Ms Meng's arrest.The diplomatic spat has hurt Canada-China relations, and the arrest of the two Canadians had been seen as
Beijing's retaliation for its detention of Ms Meng.Canada officially launched her extradition process on Friday but the legal process can be
lengthy and remains in its early stages
Speaking to journalists on Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his government was "very concerned with this position that China has
taken" on the two detained men
"It is unfortunate that China continues to move forward on these arbitrary detentions, and we will continue to stand up for these
Canadians," he said.Mr Trudeau has previously called for the release of both men.What are China's allegations against the pairThey were set
out for the first time on Monday.Mr Kovrig, who now works for Brussels-based think tank the International Crisis Group (ICG), "is suspected
of spying and stealing national secrets for foreign agents", Chinese state media reported, citing authorities.It said that Mr Spavor "had
provided intelligence to Mr Kovrig and was an important intelligence contact of [his]".Mr Kovrig had entered China frequently since 2017
with "a regular passport and a business visa", the authorities said.Until now China had not provided detailed allegations against the pair,
only saying that they were suspected of hurting China's security.The ICG told the TheIndianSubcontinent that the group was aware of Monday's
reports but had "heard nothing official about any charges being laid against our colleague, Michael Kovrig"."Michael's work for Crisis Group
has been entirely transparent and in the open as all who follow his work can attest
Vague and unsubstantiated accusations against him are unwarranted and unfair," a spokesperson said.The think tank has previously said his
work involved meeting officials, academics and analysts and attending conferences.Mr Spavor lives in the Chinese city of Dandong, which
He has close ties to the North Korean regime and brings foreign investors there on tours.Where are we in the Meng extradition processMs
Meng, 47, will next appear in court on Wednesday, when it will be confirmed that Canada has issued a legal writ over her extradition to the
A date for an extradition hearing will be set.Image copyrightReutersImage caption
Ms Meng, who owns property in
Vancouver, is currently on bail
But this is still the early stages
A judge must authorise her committal for extradition and the justice minister would then decide whether to surrender her to the US.There
will be chances for appeal and some cases have dragged on for years.Why is Ms Meng suing CanadaMs Meng's lawsuit - filed in British
Columbia's Supreme Court on Friday - seeks damages against the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA)
and the federal government for allegedly breaching her civil rights under Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms.Her detention was
"unlawful" and "arbitrary", the suit says, and officers "intentionally failed to advise her of the true reasons for her detention, her right
to counsel, and her right to silence".Please upgrade your browser to view this content.hideHow did we get hereWhat happened nextShow allWas
this timeline usefulYesNoThank you for your feedback.Share this chatbot.What is Huawei accused of The US alleges Huawei misled the US and a
global bank about its relationship with two subsidiaries, Huawei Device USA and Skycom Tech, to conduct business with Iran.US President
Donald Trump's administration has reinstated all sanctions on Iran removed under a 2015 nuclear deal and recently imposed even stricter
measures, hitting oil exports, shipping and banks.It also alleges Huawei stole technology from T Mobile used to test smartphone durability,
as well as obstructing justice and committing wire fraud.In all, the US has laid 23 charges against the company.Some Western nations are
reviewing business with the firm over spying concerns, although Huawei has always maintained it acts independently.How has China
reactedImage:Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei on the arrest of his daughterThe arrest has seriously strained relations between China, and the US
and Canada.Beijing says it is an "abuse of the bilateral extradition treaty" between Canada and the US, and has expressed its "resolute
opposition" and "strong dissatisfaction" with the proceedings.China also says the accusations against Huawei, the world's second biggest
smartphone maker by volume, are a "witch-hunt".China and the US are also engaged in tough trade negotiations to end a major tariff dispute.
