ToplineOn Wednesday, a Chinese court convicted Michael Spavor, a Canadian businessman, of spying and sentenced him 11 years imprisonment. This decision will likely further deteriorate diplomatic relations between Beijing & Ottawa. The chief financial officer at Chinese telecom giant Huawei is being held in Canada and could be extradited to the U.S.Turnisa MatsedikQira of the Vancouver Uyghur Association protests against China's treatment... [+] while holding a photo detained Canadians Michael Spavor & Michael Kovrig in front of a court appearance for Huawei Chief financial Officer, Meng Wanzhou at Vancouver's British Columbia Supreme Court in 2019. AFP via Getty ImagesThe Key FactsSpavor was found guilty of illegally giving state secrets to other nations and spying. These charges have been decried both by Canadian authorities as well as his family as unclear and vague. According to Reuters the Dandong Intermediate Court ruled Sparvor's personal assets would be forfeited and he would be deported. Although it's not clear when Sparvor will be removed, it is usually done after the person has completed their sentence. This ruling in Sparvor's case comes one day after another Chinese court affirmed the death sentence for a Canadian man convicted of drug smuggling. Canadian authorities strongly condemned this decision. These rulings are coming at a time when Meng Wanzhou (chief financial officer of Chinese telecom company Huawei) is being held in Canada and tried to convince the court not to extradite her to the United States.Important BackgroundThe Wednesday ruling could further damage diplomatic ties between China, Canada and the United States. This was after the United States issued a warrant for Meng's arrest in December 2018 at Vancouver International Airport by Canadian authorities. Meng, 49 years old, has been charged with misleading HSBC Holdings regarding Huawei's Iran operations. This could have led to the lender violating American sanctions. The arrest of Meng caused a diplomatic row between Ottawa and Beijing. Spavor and Michael Kovrig, a former Canadian diplomat, were taken into custody in China in the latter part of 2018. They were then accused of spying. In 2019, another Canadian man Robert Schellenberg was executed for drug smuggling. This was in a fallout from the diplomatic row. Schellenberg was initially sentenced to 15 year imprisonment when he was first arrested in China in 2014. A Chinese court upheld Schellenberg's death sentence on Tuesday and rejected his appeal. Marc Garneau, Canadian Foreign Minister, condemned the decision and stated that we have repeatedly voiced our opposition to China's cruel and inhumane punishment.What to WatchSpavor and Korvig were both charged in 2019 with espionage. Although Korvig's trial was held in March, no verdict has been announced.Continue readingChina Court convicts Canadian Michael Spavor to 11 year imprisonment in espionage case. (Reuters)Canadian Michael Spavor sentenced at 11 years imprisonment, and ordered to be deported by a Chinese court (CBC News).
