Canadian accused of espionage by China on trial in closed courtroom

Nickel talks to journalists as he waits to be allowed to enter the Dandong Intermediate People's Court, where Spavor will be on trial under spying charges, in Dandong in China's northeast Liaoning province on March 19, 2021. - AFP

DANDONG, China (Reuters): A Canadian detained by China more than two years ago on suspicion of espionage, Michael Spavor, was due to go on trial on Friday (March 19), a case seen in Ottawa and Washington as part of a wider diplomatic spat with Beijing.

A senior Canadian embassy official said he and other diplomats were denied access to the trial in the northeastern city of Dandong on national security grounds and expressed disappointment at what he has called a lack of transparency in the case.