Opinion | ‘Two Michaels’ released by China, but threat to Western business remains

The men, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor (together known as “the two Michaels”), were arrested nearly three years ago after Canada arrested a Huawei Technologies executive, Meng Wanzhou, at the behest of the U.S. Justice Department. Canadians viewed the arrest of the Michaels as retaliation for their government’s act, in part because the men were arrested days after Meng’s arrest and also because the Chinese never provided any evidence of the charges against them. The fact that they were released only hours after U.S. officials reached a plea deal with Meng, allowing her to return to China, further reinforces the idea that the Canadians had effectively been taken hostage.

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