Canadian officials have confirmed they were granted consular access to one of two Canadians detained in China on suspicion of "endangering national security."
"Today, Canada was granted consular access to Michael Kovrig," a statement by Global Affairs Canada said.
Canada's ambassador to China, John McCallum, met the former Canadian diplomat in Beijing, the statement said.
"Canadian consular officials continue to provide consular services to him and his family and will continue to seek further access to Mr Kovrig," the statement said.
Tensions between China and Canada have risen after China said Kovrig and the second arrested Canadian, Michael Spavor, are being investigated for endangering national security.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said "compulsory measures" have been taken against Kovrig and Spavor, whose disappearance is seen as retaliation for Canada's arrest of Chinese executive Meng Wanzhou.
The men are "suspected of being involved in activities endangering China's national security law," Lu said. He said China has notified the Canadian embassy and is guaranteeing the men's legal rights.
Canada said it continues to press for consular access to Spavor.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called on China to release the two Canadian citizens, denouncing their "unlawful detention."
"The detention of these two Canadian citizens in China ought to end," Pompeo said in Washington, standing alongside the Canadian foreign minister, Chrystia Freeland, and defence minister, Harjit Sajjan.
Freeland said Chinese officials have not drawn a connection between the detention of the two Canadians and Meng's arrest in Canada, in their discussions with her.
Canada was acting "scrupulously" in the Meng case and the country follows the rule of law, Freeland said. She insisted there should be no political interference in the judicial process.
Her comments were seen directed as much at Chinese authorities as at US President Donald Trump, who suggested on Tuesday that he might intervene in Meng's case if it served national security interests or helped him get a better trade deal with China.
Amid the tensions, Canada's tourism minister also cancelled a trip to China at the last minute, her office announced on Friday.
Meng's arrest has caused an anti-Canadian backlash on Chinese social media sites with many users calling for a boycott of Canadian goods.
Kovrig is an ex-diplomat who works as an expert on North-East Asia for the non-governmental think tank International Crisis Group. He was arrested on Monday by state security in Beijing, the Canadian Foreign Ministry confirmed.
Spavor runs a China-based non-profit that organised the trips to North Korea by basketball star Dennis Rodman in 2013 and 2014.
Australian Associated Press
