Beijing, Ottawa talking amid detention of Canadians

Beijing and Ottawa are maintaining regular diplomatic communication regarding the recent detention of two Canadian nationals in China, and Beijing has arranged for Canadian officials to have access to them, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Monday.

China is providing all necessary assistance to allow Canada to fulfill normal consular services, and the legitimate rights and interests of the two Canadian citizens are being guaranteed, Hua said at a daily news briefing.

The Canadians, businessman Michael Spavor and former diplomat Michael Kovrig, are suspected of engaging in activities that endanger China's national security. Their cases are now under investigation and they are being detained according to the law, she said.