Second Canadian goes on trial in China on spying charge

China did not release any information Monday on what happened at Canadian Michael Kovrig’s trial.

Foreign Affairs Minister Marc Garneau says the government is deeply troubled by the total lack of transparency and is continuing to work toward an immediate end to the arbitrary detention of Kovrig and Michael Spavor.

READ: Canadian detained in China tried on spy charges, but no verdict announced

Rhe Canadian Embassy’s deputy chief of mission remained outside Beijing’s No. 2 Intermediate Court after dark, but did not receive any information.

China says the trials are being conducted behind closed doors because they involve state secrets.

Beijing is seen as using Kovrig and Spavor as leverage to obtain the release of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou, who was arrested at the request of the U.S. in Vancouver in December 2018.