Canada says China has now detained 13 Canadians since the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou

Chinese police guard Canadian embassy — (Image credit: Greg Baker/AFP/Getty Images)

Since Canadian authorities arrested Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver last month at America's request, China has detained 13 Canadian citizens, Canada said Thursday. "At least" eight of them have since been released, though not the first two, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavo, a Canadian official tells Reuters. Western diplomats say China's arrests of Canadians is likely retaliation for Canada's arrest of Meng, daughter of the telecom giant's founder, but Canada says it sees no link between the arrests in China and Canada.

Meng, 46, has been living in one of her two Vancouver residences since being released on bail Dec. 11. She's fighting extradition to the U.S. to face charges related to violating Iran sanctions.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.