Chinese Embassy says the arrest of Kovrig and Spavor have nothing to do with the actions of Meng Wanzhou

The Chinese Embassy to Canada in Ottawa denied claims that Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig are being held pending the release of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou.

Natasha Fatah posted on Twitter: "The Chinese embassy in Ottawa has released a new statement about Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, saying their cases have nothing to do with Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou."

The Chinese Embassy issued a statement, saying: "The Meng Wanzhou incident is a gravel political incident concocted by the United States to suppress Chinese high-tech enterprises and Huawei, and Canada is its accomplice."

"This is really arbitrary detention. The Meng Wanzhou incident is totally different from the case of the two Canadians in essence."

"Some Canadian media deliberately reported Michael Kovrig's wife's remarks as the spokesperson's statement, and claimed that China linked the Meng Wanzhou incident with the case of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor."

"This is ill-intentioned, has seriously misled the public and violated professional ethics."

This appears to be a contradiction from what was recently said by China's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said unequivocally that he will allow Canada's independent judiciary to move forward in conducting a fair hearing into Meng's extradition.

Kovrig and Spavor were arrested 9 days after Meng, CEO of Huawei, was apprehended in Canada. The arrest of the two Canadians is widely considered to be retaliation for Meng's arrest.

Meng was held pending extradition to the US on charges of violating sanctions by doing business with Iran. Evidence of this surfaced through a number of clandestine bank transfers.

Though Meng's trial began in February, it will take a number of phases to come to a complete verdict. She lost the first phase.

Though Trudeau has made it clear that he wants a fair trial, the families of Kovrig and Spavor are nervous that the two Canadians will not be released if Meng is extradited.