BeijingAfter 557 days of interrogation and incarceration in facilities where the lights are kept on day and night, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor have been formally charged by Chinese authorities, accused of espionage – a crime punishable by life in prison.The charges against the two Canadians, which carry a minimum sentence of 10 years, represent the formal commencement of judicial proceedings against them in a justice system with a conviction rate of more than 99 per cent.Mr. Kovrig was charged with spying on national secrets and intelligence for entities outside the territory of...…BeijingAfter 557 days of interrogation and incarceration in facilities where the lights are kept on day and night, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor have been formally charged by Chinese authorities, accused of espionage – a crime punishable by life in prison.The charges against the two Canadians, which carry a minimum sentence of 10 years, represent the formal commencement of judicial proceedings against them in a justice system with a conviction rate of more than 99 per cent.Mr. Kovrig was charged with spying on national secrets and intelligence for entities outside the territory of...WW…

Beijing and ottawaA Chinese court has sentenced a Falun Gong practitioner who held a Canadian passport to eight years in prison for belonging to a spiritual movement that Beijing calls a “cult.”Sun Qian also renounced her Canadian citizenship in the process – a move her supporters say she made under duress and torture.“I believe she should still be regarded by us as a Canadian citizen,” former Liberal justice minister Irwin Cotler said. Mr. Cotler, who has worked on Ms. Sun’s case, accused the Chinese of securing a false confession from her.“If someone is tortured into making a false...…Beijing and ottawaA Chinese court has sentenced a Falun Gong practitioner who held a Canadian passport to eight years in prison for belonging to a spiritual movement that Beijing calls a “cult.”Sun Qian also renounced her Canadian citizenship in the process – a move her supporters say she made under duress and torture.“I believe she should still be regarded by us as a Canadian citizen,” former Liberal justice minister Irwin Cotler said. Mr. Cotler, who has worked on Ms. Sun’s case, accused the Chinese of securing a false confession from her.“If someone is tortured into making a false...WW…

BeijingCanada should boycott the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022 in response to China’s imposition of a national security law on Hong Kong, says Canada’s former top diplomat to a city whose freedoms are coming under the increasingly direct control of authorities in mainland China.Over the past few years, relations have been strained between China and a number of major Winter Olympic medal-winning countries, including the United States, Norway, Sweden, South Korea, Japan and Canada, whose athletes are preparing to compete in Beijing even as China continues to incarcerate Canadians Michael...…BeijingCanada should boycott the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022 in response to China’s imposition of a national security law on Hong Kong, says Canada’s former top diplomat to a city whose freedoms are coming under the increasingly direct control of authorities in mainland China.Over the past few years, relations have been strained between China and a number of major Winter Olympic medal-winning countries, including the United States, Norway, Sweden, South Korea, Japan and Canada, whose athletes are preparing to compete in Beijing even as China continues to incarcerate Canadians Michael...WW…

Beijing and ottawaChina says it has found pests in logs from Canada, raising fears that Beijing is threatening a key Canadian export in retaliation for a recent court ruling against detained Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou.Customs officials have found longhorn beetles and bark beetles in shipments of Canadian logs, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said Tuesday in Beijing.“In order to prevent the introduction of these pests, China has treated the logs in accordance with relevant Chinese quarantine laws and regulations,” he said.Mr. Zhao called these “normal quarantine safety”...…Beijing and ottawaChina says it has found pests in logs from Canada, raising fears that Beijing is threatening a key Canadian export in retaliation for a recent court ruling against detained Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou.Customs officials have found longhorn beetles and bark beetles in shipments of Canadian logs, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said Tuesday in Beijing.“In order to prevent the introduction of these pests, China has treated the logs in accordance with relevant Chinese quarantine laws and regulations,” he said.Mr. Zhao called these “normal quarantine safety”...WW…

BeijingBeijing’s looming imposition of a security law on Hong Kong has spread fear through charities and advocacy groups in the city, as China prepares to go after foreign-backed organizations deemed to interfere in local affairs or carry out “destructive” or “subversive” activities.For decades, Hong Kong was a haven for civil society, a safe place for activists who had fled China and an operational base on the fringe of the mainland for groups pursuing social justice, labour rights and democracy.Now those groups are contemplating whether they can continue to exist as China prepares a...…BeijingBeijing’s looming imposition of a security law on Hong Kong has spread fear through charities and advocacy groups in the city, as China prepares to go after foreign-backed organizations deemed to interfere in local affairs or carry out “destructive” or “subversive” activities.For decades, Hong Kong was a haven for civil society, a safe place for activists who had fled China and an operational base on the fringe of the mainland for groups pursuing social justice, labour rights and democracy.Now those groups are contemplating whether they can continue to exist as China prepares a...WW…

Includes correctionBeijingThe Chinese government has issued a new warning to Canada about further “damage” to relations between the two countries – just before a British Columbia judge releases a decision on an extradition hearing for Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou.Canada must “release Ms. Meng and ensure her safe return to China at an early date to avoid more damage caused to China-Canada relations,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said Tuesday.The Supreme Court of British Columbia expects to release its decision Wednesday after an initial hearing in the extradition case...…Includes correctionBeijingThe Chinese government has issued a new warning to Canada about further “damage” to relations between the two countries – just before a British Columbia judge releases a decision on an extradition hearing for Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou.Canada must “release Ms. Meng and ensure her safe return to China at an early date to avoid more damage caused to China-Canada relations,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said Tuesday.The Supreme Court of British Columbia expects to release its decision Wednesday after an initial hearing in the extradition case...WW…

BeijingThe world’s factory may be back in business, but its people are still reeling, as China’s first-quarter economic performance – its worst in more than 50 years – serves as a new warning about the depth of the crisis created by the pandemic.China’s GDP contracted 6.8 per cent in the first three months of the year, breaking a decades-long growth streak. Behind that dire number stands an uneven recovery from the severe lockdowns imposed to slow the spread of the virus, with heavy industry back on its feet while consumers, who have become the real backbone of the world’s second-largest...…BeijingThe world’s factory may be back in business, but its people are still reeling, as China’s first-quarter economic performance – its worst in more than 50 years – serves as a new warning about the depth of the crisis created by the pandemic.China’s GDP contracted 6.8 per cent in the first three months of the year, breaking a decades-long growth streak. Behind that dire number stands an uneven recovery from the severe lockdowns imposed to slow the spread of the virus, with heavy industry back on its feet while consumers, who have become the real backbone of the world’s second-largest...WW…

BeijingCanada’s troubles with China are temporary and relations with the rising superpower will return to sunnier times, including borders once again open to immigration and investment, John McCallum, the former ambassador fired from his position last year, has told clients of a major Chinese immigration company.Mr. McCallum served in the federal cabinet, including as immigration minister, before he was named Canada’s ambassador to China in 2017. He was fired in 2019 after repeatedly speaking in support of the release of Meng Wanzhou, the Huawei executive accused of fraud in the U.S. and...…BeijingCanada’s troubles with China are temporary and relations with the rising superpower will return to sunnier times, including borders once again open to immigration and investment, John McCallum, the former ambassador fired from his position last year, has told clients of a major Chinese immigration company.Mr. McCallum served in the federal cabinet, including as immigration minister, before he was named Canada’s ambassador to China in 2017. He was fired in 2019 after repeatedly speaking in support of the release of Meng Wanzhou, the Huawei executive accused of fraud in the U.S. and...WW…

BeijingThe Chinese government has once again threatened to punish Canada in a new round of verbal attacks from a foreign ministry with a lengthening list of targets among Western countries critical of Beijing’s policies.China on Monday lashed out at measures taken by Canada last week in response to a on Hong Kong. Ottawa suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong, halted the export of sensitive military goods to the city and issued a warning to travellers going there that they face new risks of arbitrary arrest and potential extradition to mainland China.“China condemns that and...…BeijingThe Chinese government has once again threatened to punish Canada in a new round of verbal attacks from a foreign ministry with a lengthening list of targets among Western countries critical of Beijing’s policies.China on Monday lashed out at measures taken by Canada last week in response to a on Hong Kong. Ottawa suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong, halted the export of sensitive military goods to the city and issued a warning to travellers going there that they face new risks of arbitrary arrest and potential extradition to mainland China.“China condemns that and...WW…

Beijing, ottawaCanada’s ambassador to Beijing says China is alienating foreign countries and injuring its goodwill abroad at a time when its diplomats have adopted a heavy-handed approach around the world. Dominic Barton is also backing a “rigorous review” of the World Health Organization and the spread of the deadly coronavirus – although not until the worst of the pandemic is over.Mr. Barton told a private session of the Canadian International Council last week that China’s conduct is damaging its own global “soft power,” undermining its international influence and ability to persuade...…Beijing, ottawaCanada’s ambassador to Beijing says China is alienating foreign countries and injuring its goodwill abroad at a time when its diplomats have adopted a heavy-handed approach around the world. Dominic Barton is also backing a “rigorous review” of the World Health Organization and the spread of the deadly coronavirus – although not until the worst of the pandemic is over.Mr. Barton told a private session of the Canadian International Council last week that China’s conduct is damaging its own global “soft power,” undermining its international influence and ability to persuade...WW…