Former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig detained in China, sources say
Published 19 minutes ago
Former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig has been detained in China, according to the International Crisis Group, the organization where he has worked since 2017.
Mr. Kovrig’s detention comes little more than a week after Canada arrested Meng Wanzhou, the chief financial officer of Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei. China’s foreign ministry threatened “severe consequences” if Ms. Meng was not immediately released.
"We are doing everything possible to secure additional information on Michael’s whereabouts as well as his prompt and safe release,” the International Crisis Group said.
Mr. Kovrig had worked as a diplomat at the Canadian embassy in Beijing, in addition to postings in Hong Kong and the United Nations. He had more recently worked at the International Crisis Group, where he authored reports on North Korea and other north-east Asia security matters. He was also a frequent media commentator, including for The Globe and Mail.
Ms. Meng was arrested in Vancouver at the behest of the U.S.
Commentators in the Chinese state press have likened Ms. Meng’s arrest to a “kidnapping” and a “hostage-taking."
“U.S.-China relations have deteriorated to their worst point since the 1989 Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests in Beijing,” Mr. Kovrig said, in a recent quote posted on the ICG website.
An automated system message said Mr. Kovrig’s cell phone had been turned off.
Mr. Kovrig lives in Hong Kong but travels frequently to China, where he had travelled extensively as a diplomat, he said on his LinkedIn profile.
At the Beijing embassy, he “analyzed politics, domestic policy, the economy, foreign and security policy,” he said on LinkedIn. He also served as a political leader for a visit to Hong Kong in 2016 by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Published 19 minutes ago
Former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig has been detained in China, according to the International Crisis Group, the organization where he has worked since 2017.
Mr. Kovrig’s detention comes little more than a week after Canada arrested Meng Wanzhou, the chief financial officer of Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei. China’s foreign ministry threatened “severe consequences” if Ms. Meng was not immediately released.
"We are doing everything possible to secure additional information on Michael’s whereabouts as well as his prompt and safe release,” the International Crisis Group said.
Mr. Kovrig had worked as a diplomat at the Canadian embassy in Beijing, in addition to postings in Hong Kong and the United Nations. He had more recently worked at the International Crisis Group, where he authored reports on North Korea and other north-east Asia security matters. He was also a frequent media commentator, including for The Globe and Mail.
Ms. Meng was arrested in Vancouver at the behest of the U.S.
Commentators in the Chinese state press have likened Ms. Meng’s arrest to a “kidnapping” and a “hostage-taking."
“U.S.-China relations have deteriorated to their worst point since the 1989 Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests in Beijing,” Mr. Kovrig said, in a recent quote posted on the ICG website.
An automated system message said Mr. Kovrig’s cell phone had been turned off.
Mr. Kovrig lives in Hong Kong but travels frequently to China, where he had travelled extensively as a diplomat, he said on his LinkedIn profile.
At the Beijing embassy, he “analyzed politics, domestic policy, the economy, foreign and security policy,” he said on LinkedIn. He also served as a political leader for a visit to Hong Kong in 2016 by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
