China: 13 Canadians held in ‘tit-for-tat’ detentions
Tensions have been rising since arrest of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver last month

Canada has announced that at least 13 of its citizens have been detained in China since a Chinese CEO was arrested in Vancouver last month.
In a statement released Thursday, the Canadian government said “at least” eight of its detained nationals have since been released, but did not reveal if any charges had been laid, Reuters reports.
The spate of detentions began shortly after Canadian authorities arrested Huawei chief Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver on 1 December, at the request of US authorities, over alleged violations of sanctions.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Diplomatic tensions between Canada and China rapidly escalated, with Beijing warning of “serious consequences” for Meng’s “unreasonable, merciless and very evil” detention.
The first two Canadians to be arrested were Michael Kovrig, an analyst for the International Crisis Group, and businessman Michael Spavor, both on charges of “endangering national security”.
Ottawa has not explicitly linked any of the recent detentions to that of the Huawei boss, but Guy Saint-Jacques, Canada’s former ambassador to China, has hinted at a connection, The Guardian reports.
“In China there are no coincidences,” Saint-Jacques said. “In this case it is clear the Chinese government wants to put maximum pressure on the Canadian government.”
However, Jessica Chen Weiss, a China expert at New York’s Cornell University, told the Financial Times that “taking aim at smaller targets is, ironically, a positive sign that Beijing does not want the Huawei arrest to derail the truce in US-China trade tensions”.
Roland Paris, professor of international affairs at the University of Ottawa, added: “I think as tensions grow there is a risk Canada gets caught in the middle of the US and China.”
Meng was released on a C$10m (£5.9m) bail on 11 December and is “living in one of her two multimillion-dollar Vancouver homes as she fights extradition to the United States”, Reuters reports.
“The 46-year-old executive must wear an ankle monitor and stay at home from 11pm to 6am” the news site adds.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Weer at Soho Theatre Walthamstow: a 'silly, seductive, slapstick joy'
The Week Recommends Natalie Palamides' 'tear-inducingly funny' one-woman show opens London's newest venue
-
Can the world stop Israel from starving Gaza?
Today's Big Question Total blockade on food and aid enters its third month, and Israel is accused of 'weaponising starvation'
-
The timely revival of watchmaking
Under The Radar Artisan horology is enjoying a surprising resurgence
-
What happens if tensions between India and Pakistan boil over?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As the two nuclear-armed neighbors rattle their sabers in the wake of a terrorist attack on the contested Kashmir region, experts worry that the worst might be yet to come
-
Why Russia removed the Taliban's terrorist designation
The Explainer Russia had designated the Taliban as a terrorist group over 20 years ago
-
Inside the Israel-Turkey geopolitical dance across Syria
THE EXPLAINER As Syria struggles in the wake of the Assad regime's collapse, its neighbors are carefully coordinating to avoid potential military confrontations
-
'Like a sound from hell': Serbia and sonic weapons
The Explainer Half a million people sign petition alleging Serbian police used an illegal 'sound cannon' to disrupt anti-government protests
-
The arrest of the Philippines' former president leaves the country's drug war in disarray
In the Spotlight Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by the ICC earlier this month
-
Ukrainian election: who could replace Zelenskyy?
The Explainer Donald Trump's 'dictator' jibe raises pressure on Ukraine to the polls while the country is under martial law
-
Why Serbian protesters set off smoke bombs in parliament
THE EXPLAINER Ongoing anti-corruption protests erupted into full view this week as Serbian protesters threw the country's legislature into chaos
-
Who is the Hat Man? 'Shadow people' and sleep paralysis
In Depth 'Sleep demons' have plagued our dreams throughout the centuries, but the explanation could be medical