Canadians arrested on espionage charges

China has formally arrested two Canadians who were detained in December on suspicion of endangering national security, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said on Thursday.

Michael Kovrig, a former Canadian diplomat, was arrested on suspicion of prying into State secrets and intelligence for overseas forces, Lu said at a daily news conference.

Michael Spavor, a businessman based in China, was arrested on suspicion of stealing and illegally providing State secrets to overseas forces, Lu said.