China formally arrests two Canadians over security concerns

China has formally arrested two Canadians who have been detained in December last year on suspicion of endangering national security, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said Thursday.

Michael Kovrig, a former Canadian diplomat, has been arrested by Chinese authorities in accordance with the law on suspicion of prying into state secrets and intelligence for overseas forces, Lu said at a regular news conference.

Michael Spavor, a Canadian businessman based in China, has also been arrested on suspicion of stealing and illegally providing state secrets to overseas forces, Lu added.