Canadian consular officials meet again with detainee Michael Kovrig in China

Canadian consular officials in China visited with MichaelKovrigtoday just the second time they've been allowed to see him since he was detained one month ago.

A news release from Global Affairs Canada (GAC) said officials will continue to seek further access to Kovrig, a diplomat who was on leave working as an adviser with the International Crisis Group,and Michael Spavor, an entrepreneur originally from Calgary.

The men were taken separatelyinto Chinese custody on alleged national security grounds in December.

"The Canadian government remains deeply concerned by the arbitrary detention by Chinese authorities of these two Canadians since last month and continues to call for their immediate release," reads a statement from GAC spokesperson Guillaume Brub.

He did not provide details on the visit, citing privacy concerns.

The release said Canada appreciates the efforts of countries that have spoken out in support of thedetained Canadians and the rule of law, including Australia, the EU, France, Germany, theUnited Kingdom,the United Statesand, most recently, the Netherlands, Latvia, Lithuaniaand Estonia.

Kovrigwas detained on December 10, 2018. Canadian officials were granted consular access to him for the first time four days later.

Calls on PM to take harder line

Consular visits are made to evaluate the detainee's well-being, to clarify the nature of the detention with local authorities and with the detainee,to provide legal guidance and advice onmedical attention, if required, and to share messagesbetween thedetainee and loved ones back home.

Canadian officials also have made two consular visits toSpavor,director of thePaektuCultural Exchange, an organization that organizes sporting, cultural, tourism and business exchanges with North Korea.

The detention of the two Canadians came after Canada arrested Huaweichief financial officer MengWanzhouin Vancouver on an extradition request from the U.S.She was later granted bail and is now awaiting court proceedings.

The Conservatives have been pressing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to take a harder line by callingChinese President XiJinpingdirectly.

This week, China's Ambassador to Canada Lu Shayewrote an op-ed in the Hill Timesaccusing Canada and its Western allies of embracing"Western egotism and white supremacy"by calling for the release of the two Canadians.

"The reason why some people are used to arrogantly adopting double standards is due to Western egotism and white supremacy," Lu wrote. "What they have been doing is not showing respect for the rule of law, but mocking and trampling the rule of law."