Spavor’s lawsuit raises questions that should have already been examined

One would think that mere curiosity would have led journalists to delve deeper into the two Canadians who were caught up in the middle of what was dubbed ‘hostage diplomacy’ between the Canadian government and the People’s Republic of China.

Michael Spavor, left, is seeking a settlement from the Canadian government after alleging he was detained in China because he unwittingly provided intelligence on North Korea to Canada and allied spy services through Michael Kovrig. Photograph courtesy of X and the International Crisis Group

Opinion

BY SCOTT TAYLOR

November 27, 2023

OTTAWA—Ever since Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig—a.k.a. “the two Michaels”—were first detained by Chinese authorities on charges of espionage in December 2018, there has been a paucity of detailed analysis as to just exactly who these two gentlemen really are.

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