Beijing on Monday rubbished a Canadian charge that two of its citizens were being arbitrarily detained in China, instead accusing Ottawa of "double standards" over the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou.

Canadian former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor have been held in China for nearly two years and have been charged with spying.

Over the weekend the men were granted their first meeting with Canadian embassy officials since January, leading Canada to reiterate its objection to their "arbitrary detention."

Meng, the daughter of Huawei's founder, was arrested in Canada in December 2018 on a US warrant during a stopover in Vancouver -- just days later Kovrig and Spavor were picked up in China.

"What Canada has done to Meng Wanzhou is arbitrary detention," foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters.

Accusing Canada of "double standards" for holding her, Zhao said any attempts "to form international cliques to put pressure on China together are totally futile and counterproductive."

Meng, chief financial officer of the Chinese telecoms giant, is charged with bank fraud related to violations of US sanctions against Iran, and has been fighting extradition ever since.

Zhao added that the accusation of arbitrary detention "cannot be pinned on China" and urged Canada to "fully respect China's judicial sovereignty, and stop releasing irresponsible remarks."

Canadian ambassador Dominic Barton obtained "virtual consular access" to Spavor on Friday and Kovrig on Saturday, ending a months-long absence of direct communication.

Kovrig and Spavor have been held in China since December 10, 2018. They were formally charged with espionage in June.

Zhao also criticised the Canadian justice department's decision last week to deny Meng access to confidential documents, in a fresh blow to her case.

"If the Canadian side truly respects the rule of law, it should agree to disclose the case's key evidence as soon as possible," he said.

Canadian detained in China 'relieved' by virtual visit
Montreal (AFP) Oct 11, 2020 - One of the two Canadians that Ottawa says are held arbitrarily in China was "relieved" to get outside news via a virtual diplomatic visit and remains determined to come home, his wife said Sunday.

Canada announced Saturday its first contact since January with Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, who have been imprisoned in China for nearly two years.

After months of "extreme isolation, Michael was greatly relieved to receive news from the outside world" and of his family, Kovrig's wife Vina Nadjibulla told the CBC.

"We are extremely proud that despite his long confinement, Michael's spirit, determination and even his sense of humor remain unbroken," she said, adding that her husband was shocked to learn about the scale of the coronavirus pandemic.

Canada's ambassador to China Dominic Barton obtained "virtual consular access" to Spavor on Friday and Kovrig on Saturday, the Canadian Foreign Affairs ministry said in a statement.

Former diplomat Kovrig and consultant Spavor have been imprisoned in China since December 10, 2018. They were charged with espionage last June.

Their detention is seen by Western governments as retaliation for the arrest in Canada of Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of Chinese telecoms giant Huawei and daughter of its founder.

Meng was arrested on a US warrant in December 2018 during a stopover in Vancouver.

She is charged with bank fraud related to violations of US sanctions against Iran, and has been fighting extradition ever since.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Saturday he had spoken with Donald Trump and thanked the US president for Washington's continued support of efforts to free the two Canadians.

When announcing the consular visit on Saturday, the Canadian government reiterated its deep concern over the "arbitrary detention" of the two men and called for their immediate release.

The purpose of consular visits is generally to assess the condition of a detainee, clarify the nature of his detention, provide advice, seek access to medical care if necessary, and serve as a channel of communication between the detainee and his relatives.

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