OTTAWA — U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo marked Canada Day Wednesday by accusing the Chinese government of dimming celebrations this year with “trumped-up espionage charges” against two Canadians detained in China. Pompeo cited the Chinese Communist Party to suggest Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor are being detained in retaliation for the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver. “Canada’s national day celebrations are dimmed by the CCP’s recent decision to bring trumped-up espionage charges against Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor,” he told White House reporters. @SecPompeo: Today, Canada’s national day celebrations are dimmed by the CCP’s recent decision to bring trumped-up espionage charges against Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor. “Hostage-taking for political gains puts China in league with the Irans and Venezuelas of the world,” Pompeo said.

Source: Huffington Post July 01, 2020 19:52 UTC