Friend of detained diplomat in China says she fears for the worst

The whereabouts of Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig remain a mystery after it was revealed that he was detained by the Chinese government. Since the news broke, the Chinese government has shed very little light on the situation. While declining to confirm Michael Kovrig's detention, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said the International Crisis Group, where Kovrig is a Hong-Kong-based analyst, was not registered in China and its activities in the country were illegal.

Charles Burton is a former Canadian diplomat in China and now is a professor at Brock University in Ontario. He says because Kovrig has been arrested by the Ministry of State Security, he can expect a tough interrogation process and won't be able to see a lawyer for six months, and his family will have no way to get in touch with him.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his government has contacted Chinese authorities about the detention of former Canadian diplomat as tensions intensify between the two countries over the recent arrest of a Chinese tech executive.

Joanna Chiu is a friend of Michael Korvig’s, and has written an opinion piece in the Vancouver StarMetro pleading for everyone in Canada to pay attention to his case. She joins us now…

Guest: Joanna Chiu

Assistant managing editor of StarMetro Vancouver, and friend of Michael Kovrig

The whereabouts of Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig remain a mystery after it was revealed that he was detained by the Chinese government. Since the news broke, the Chinese government has shed very little light on the situation. While declining to confirm Michael Kovrig's detention, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said the International Crisis Group, where Kovrig is a Hong-Kong-based analyst, was not registered in China and its activities in the country were illegal.

Charles Burton is a former Canadian diplomat in China and now is a professor at Brock University in Ontario. He says because Kovrig has been arrested by the Ministry of State Security, he can expect a tough interrogation process and won't be able to see a lawyer for six months, and his family will have no way to get in touch with him.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his government has contacted Chinese authorities about the detention of former Canadian diplomat as tensions intensify between the two countries over the recent arrest of a Chinese tech executive.

Joanna Chiu is a friend of Michael Korvig’s, and has written an opinion piece in the Vancouver StarMetro pleading for everyone in Canada to pay attention to his case. She joins us now…

Guest: Joanna Chiu

Assistant managing editor of StarMetro Vancouver, and friend of Michael Kovrig