China sentences Canadian to 11 years for spying in case tied to Huawei

Michael Spavor, director of Paektu Cultural Exchange. Photo / AP

A Chinese court has sentenced Canadian Michael Spavor to 11 years on spying charges in a case linked to Huawei.

Spavor was detained in 2018 after his government arrested an executive of the Chinese tech giant.

The verdict is the latest indication of how Beijing is stepping up pressure on Canada ahead of a court ruling on whether to hand over the executive, Meng Wanzhou, to face US criminal charges.

Michael Spavor is seen with former NBA star Dennis Rodman. Photo / AP

Spavor and another Canadian were detained in China in what critics labeled "hostage politics" after the executive's 2018 arrest in connection with possible violations of trade sanctions on Iran.

On Tuesday, another Chinese court rejected the appeal of a third Canadian whose prison term in a drug case was abruptly increased to death following the executive's arrest.

Canadian Ambassador Dominic Barton was present at the hearing in the city of Dandong, about 340km east of Beijing on the North Korean border. No word has been given about a trial date for former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig, who was also detained in December 2018 and charged with spying.