- Title: Canada condemns Chinese court's 11-year sentence in Spavor's espionage case
- Date: 11th August 2021
- Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (AUGUST 11, 2021) (REUTERS) NEWS CONFERENCE BY CANADIAN AMBASSADOR TO CHINA STARTING PEOPLE LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (English) CANADIAN AMBASSADOR TO CHINA, DOMINIC BARTON, SAYING: "We condemn, in the strongest possible terms, this decision rendered after a legal process that lack both fairness and transparency. Our thoughts are with Michael and his family during this difficult time. But we maintained from the beginning that Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig are being detained arbitrarily, and we will continue to call for their immediate release. And we will continue to work tirelessly to secure their freedom that will be doubled down, to continue that. NEWS CONFERENCE ONGOING (SOUNDBITE) (English) CANADIAN AMBASSADOR TO CHINA, DOMINIC BARTON, SAYING: "Our collective presence and voice sends a strong signal to China, to China and the Chinese government in particular, that all the eyes of the world are watching." NEWS CONFERENCE ONGOING (SOUNDBITE) (English) CANADIAN AMBASSADOR TO CHINA, DOMINIC BARTON, SAYING: "In terms of the sentence, as I said we're very, very disappointed with that. The range I think we're looking at is five to 20 years. So you know 11 years is a long time and and that's again why we're going to have to just continue to work very, very hard to get him out. And certainly a lot earlier than that." PEOPLE LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (English) CANADIAN AMBASSADOR TO CHINA, DOMINIC BARTON, SAYING: "First point I'd make is you know, I don't think it's a coincidence again that these two cases have been. We've been hearing the verdicts from them while that a trial is going on, all I would say in terms of the efforts we have underway is that there are intensive efforts and discussions. I don't want to talk in any detail about that, but that that will continue as we as we've said before." PEOPLE LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (English) CANADIAN AMBASSADOR TO CHINA, DOMINIC BARTON, SAYING: "We had a consular visit with Michael right afterwards and he wanted to send three messages. I explained that we were very fortunate to have all of the international support, in the embassy in Beijing as well as here with us in, in Dandong and three messages, he wanted to send -- one, thanks you for all your support it means a lot to me, two, I am in good spirits and three, I want to get home. PEOPLE LISTENING MODERATOR SPEAKING NEWS CONFERENCE ENDING
- Embargoed: 25th August 2021 06:15
- Keywords: Canada China Dandong Dominic Barton Michael Spavor ambassador sentencing
- Location: BEIJING, CHINA
- City: BEIJING, CHINA
- Country: China
- Topics: Asia / Pacific,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001EPU3BRB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Canada's ambassador to China condemned a Chinese court's sentencing of Canadian businessman Michael Spavor to 11 years in prison for espionage on Wednesday (August 11) and call for his immediate release, echoing comments from the Canada prime minister.
Ambassador Dominic Barton, who visited Spavor at a detention centre in northeastern China following the verdict, said "we maintained from the beginning that Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig are being detained arbitrarily, and we will continue to call for their immediate release. And we will continue to work tirelessly to secure their freedom."
Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the sentencing of Spavor was "absolutely unacceptable and unjust." He called for the release of Spavor, and former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig, who is awaiting a verdict in his espionage case.
The espionage cases are embroiled in a wider diplomatic spat involving Washington and Beijing, and Spavor's sentencing comes as lawyers in Canada representing the chief financial officer of Chinese telecoms giant Huawei make a final push to convince a court not to extradite her to the United States.
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