China: Detained Canadian does not have diplomatic immunity
BEIJING — A former Canadian diplomat detained in China last month does not enjoy diplomatic immunity, a Chinese spokeswoman said Monday, rejecting a complaint from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that the man’s rights were being denied.
Trudeau said last week that Chinese officials were not respecting the diplomatic immunity of Michael Kovrig.
He was arrested along with Canadian entrepreneur Michael Spavor on vague national security allegations after a top Chinese executive with telecommunications network equipment giant Huawei was detained in Canada on Dec. 1 at the request of Washington.