Wang Wenbin, spokesman for China’s Foreign Ministry, speaks at a press conference in Beijing on Nov 29, 2023. (PHOTO / FOREIGN MINISTRY, CHINA)

BEIJING – China’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday urged Canada to stop misleading public opinion and smearing China, rebuking its accusation of China engaging in "arbitrary detention" of Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig as a distortion of facts and blame-shifting.

Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks at a daily press briefing in response to a relevant media query.

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We urge the Canadian side to respect facts, deeply reflect upon its mistakes, and stop misleading public opinion and smearing China.

Wang Wenbin, Spokesperson,  Foreign Ministry, China

According to reports by Canada's The Globe and Mail, Michael Spavor, who is suspected of engaging in espionage activities in China, said he provided Michael Kovrig with sensitive information about the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, which was later passed on to the Canadian government and its Five Eyes spy-service partners unbeknownst to Michael Spavor. This led to the arrests of the two persons in China.

Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor were suspected of criminal acts endangering China's national security, and Chinese judicial authorities handled the case in strict accordance with the law, Wang said at Wednesday’s briefing.

Relevant reports once again proved that the false accusation against China of "arbitrary detention" was a complete distortion of facts and blame-shifting, he said.

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Stories made up by the Canadian side have been debunked by facts over time, and this is the result of Canada's own doing, he added.

"We urge the Canadian side to respect facts, deeply reflect upon its mistakes, and stop misleading public opinion and smearing China," Wang said.