"Canada-China Detention Feud: Michael Spavor's Allegations of Ottawa's Intelligence Gathering"
Michael Spavor, one of the two Canadians jailed by China for nearly three years, has claimed that he was unknowingly used for intelligence gathering and is seeking compensation from the Canadian government. Spavor blames his fellow prisoner, Michael Kovrig, for their incarceration, alleging that Kovrig shared information on North Korea with Canada and its intelligence partners without Spavor's knowledge. The Chinese embassy in Ottawa criticized Spavor's claim, accusing Canada of hypocrisy. Ottawa maintains the innocence of both men and rejects the espionage charges. The detention of Spavor and Kovrig had strained bilateral relations between China and Canada, with the release of all three individuals occurring in September 2021.