Canadian Prime Minister
Justin Trudeau
on Friday condemned China’s secret court proceedings against one of two Canadian citizens who face espionage charges, arguing the closed session makes it nearly impossible to know whether the accused is getting a fair trial.
A municipal court in the Chinese city of Dandong tried
Michael Spavor
in a case at the center of a diplomatic standoff with the U.S. and Canada. The hourslong session Friday concluded without a verdict. Mr. Spavor is charged with “probing into and illegally providing state secrets” to foreign actors, and attended the closed-door trial with his lawyer, according to the court.
Mr. Trudeau told reporters at a press conference the arbitrary detentions of Mr. Spavor and another Canadian,
Michael Kovrig,
are “absolutely unacceptable, as is the lack of transparency around these court proceedings. Our top priority remains securing…