China’s Brief Trial of Two Canadians Tightens Vise on Trudeau

Canada’s ties with Asian nation likely hinge on next U.S. move
Duo’s treatment stands in stark contrast to that of Huawei CFO

Photos of Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig are shown outside a Vancouver courthouse in 2019.Photographer: Jason Redmond/AFP via Getty Images

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By Danielle Bochove, Natalie Obiko Pearson, and Kait Bolongaro

March 22, 2021 at 12:20 PM EDT

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After short trials, two Canadians remain imprisoned in China, trapped in a geopolitical squeeze between two superpowers and a Chinese billionaire’s daughter.

Following more than 800 days in jail, the trials of Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig were over within hours with no verdicts announced. The legal proceedings have exposed how much Canada has at stake and the scant leverage of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

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