China can no longer credibly use the "excuse" of COVID-19 to continue keeping Canadian diplomats from visiting Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, the Conservative foreign affairs critic says. Conservative MP Michael Chong also says recent virtual consular access to Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor should have happened much sooner. Dominic Barton, Canada's ambassador to China, had internet-based visits with Spavor on Friday and Kovrig on Saturday. It was the first contact Canadian diplomats have had with the two men since in-person visits in mid-January. People hold signs calling for China to release Canadian detainees Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig during an extradition hearing for Huawei Technologies Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver in 2019.

Source: CBC News October 11, 2020 20:35 UTC