Arrest of Michael Kovrig, who works for thinktank, follows detention of Chinese Huawei executive in Canada
The former Canadian diplomat who was detained in China days after the arrest of a senior Huawei executive is being questioned on suspicion of engaging in “activities that harmed China’s national security”, according to state-run media.
Beijing News said on Wednesday that Michael Kovrig, who works for the International Crisis Group (ICG), had become the subject of an investigation by the Beijing State Security Bureau.
He was detained after police in Canada arrested the chief financial officer of China’s Huawei Technologies Co Ltd on 1 December at the request of US authorities, infuriating Beijing.
The Canadian government has said it saw no explicit link to the Huawei case.
“Canadian citizen Michael John Kovrig was on 10 December investigated in accordance with the law by the Beijing State Security Bureau on suspicion of engaging in activities that harm China’s state security,” the newspaper said.
Accusations of harming state security could cover a wide range of suspected crimes, and in China are often very vague when first levelled.
The ICG, a thinktank focused on conflict resolution, said in an earlier statement Kovrig was detained by state security officials in Beijing on Monday night.
