By Javier C. Hernández
Michael Kovrig, a former Canadian diplomat who was detained in Beijing on Monday.
BEIJING — Missionaries. Corporate investigators. Billionaires. Legal activists.
Michael Kovrig, a former Canadian diplomat who was detained in Beijing on Monday.
BEIJING — Missionaries. Corporate investigators. Billionaires. Legal activists.
China has a long history of arresting or holding foreigners for mysterious reasons, often in a tit-for-tat play to put pressure on overseas rivals.
In recent years the number of such detentions has increased, a disturbing trend for foreigners visiting or conducting business in the country.
Michael Kovrig, a former Canadian diplomat who was detained in Beijing on Monday, is the latest foreigner to be held by the Chinese in retribution for the arrest of Meng Wanzhou, Huawei's CFO, in Canada, this month.
Here are some recent cases of foreigners caught in the cross hairs of China’s opaque legal system.
Michael Kovrig, a former Canadian diplomat who was detained in Beijing on Monday, is the latest foreigner to be held by the Chinese in retribution for the arrest of Meng Wanzhou, Huawei's CFO, in Canada, this month.
Here are some recent cases of foreigners caught in the cross hairs of China’s opaque legal system.
The Missionaries
Julia and Kevin Garratt back in Canada in 2016. The couple were arrested in 2014 by the Chinese authorities on “suspicion of stealing and spying to obtain state secrets.”
Kevin and Julia Garratt, Christian aid workers from Canada, were best known in Dandong, a Chinese city near the border with North Korea, for operating a popular coffee shop.
They also worked with a charity that provided food to North Koreans.
But in 2014, they were arrested by the Chinese authorities on “suspicion of stealing and spying to obtain state secrets.”
Ms. Garratt was released on bail and allowed to leave China.
Ms. Garratt was released on bail and allowed to leave China.
Mr. Garratt spent two years in prison before his eventual release.
Both have denied the accusations.
The Chinese have arrested the Garratts in hopes of pressuring Canada into releasing Su Bin, a Chinese spy who was being held in Vancouver, after the United States accused him of stealing military data and sought extradition.
The Chinese have arrested the Garratts in hopes of pressuring Canada into releasing Su Bin, a Chinese spy who was being held in Vancouver, after the United States accused him of stealing military data and sought extradition.
The Billionaire
The government of China has never specified the reasons for the abduction of Xiao Jianhua, a wealthy and well-connected Chinese-born Canadian citizen.
On a January morning last year, Xiao Jianhua, one of China’s most politically connected financiers, was escorted out of the Four Seasons Hotel in Hong Kong in a wheelchair by unidentified men.
On a January morning last year, Xiao Jianhua, one of China’s most politically connected financiers, was escorted out of the Four Seasons Hotel in Hong Kong in a wheelchair by unidentified men.
Xiao had rare insight into the financial holdings of China’s most powerful families, having made his fortune investing in banks, insurers and real estate.
Xiao, a Chinese-born Canadian citizen, is now believed to be in custody in the mainland, helping the authorities with investigations into the finance industry, though the government has not specified the reasons for his abduction.
The Corporate Investigators
Xiao, a Chinese-born Canadian citizen, is now believed to be in custody in the mainland, helping the authorities with investigations into the finance industry, though the government has not specified the reasons for his abduction.
The Corporate Investigators
Peter Humphrey, left, and his wife, Yu Yingzeng, both corporate investigators, came under scrutiny as part of a Chinese government investigation into fraud and corruption at GlaxoSmithKline, the pharmaceutical maker.
Peter Humphrey, a British private investigator, and his wife, Yu Yingzeng, a Chinese-born American citizen, ran a small consulting firm in Shanghai that specialized in “discreet investigations” for multinational companies, focusing on issues like counterfeiting and embezzlement.
But as an investigation by the Chinese government into fraud and corruption at GlaxoSmithKline, the pharmaceutical maker, escalated in 2013, Humphrey and Yu, who advised the firm, came under scrutiny as well.
Peter Humphrey, a British private investigator, and his wife, Yu Yingzeng, a Chinese-born American citizen, ran a small consulting firm in Shanghai that specialized in “discreet investigations” for multinational companies, focusing on issues like counterfeiting and embezzlement.
But as an investigation by the Chinese government into fraud and corruption at GlaxoSmithKline, the pharmaceutical maker, escalated in 2013, Humphrey and Yu, who advised the firm, came under scrutiny as well.
The couple were arrested and charged with violating the rights of Chinese citizens by obtaining private information.
Humphrey and Yu served prison sentences of about two years.
The Legal Advocate
Peter Dahlin, the Swedish co-founder of a nongovernmental organization that provided legal aid to Chinese citizens, was forced to apologize on national television and then deported.
Peter Dahlin, a Swedish citizen, was the co-founder of a nongovernmental organization in Beijing that provided legal aid to Chinese citizens.
Peter Dahlin, a Swedish citizen, was the co-founder of a nongovernmental organization in Beijing that provided legal aid to Chinese citizens.
His work soon caught the attention of the authorities, who were cracking down on foreign nongovernmental organizations and human rights lawyers.
In early 2016, Mr. Dahlin was detained and interrogated for 23 days by China’s Ministry of State Security.
In early 2016, Mr. Dahlin was detained and interrogated for 23 days by China’s Ministry of State Security.
He was forced to record a confession and to apologize on national television.
Then he was deported.
The Fugitive’s Family
The Fugitive’s Family
Victor and Cynthia Liu, who are American citizens, in an image provided by family friends. They have been held in China for months in what some describe as a bid to lure back their father, Liu Changming, a former bank executive who is among China’s most-wanted fugitives.
Liu Changming, a former executive at a state-owned bank in China, is among China’s most-wanted fugitives.
He is accused of playing a central role in a $1.4 billion fraud case.
He fled the country in 2007.
Now, in what some describe as a bid to lure Liu back, the Chinese government is preventing his wife and children, who are American citizens, from leaving China.
Liu’s wife, Sandra Han, and their children, Victor and Cynthia, arrived in China in June to visit an ailing relative.
Han was detained, and the children have been held for months under a practice known as an exit ban.
Liu Changming, a former executive at a state-owned bank in China, is among China’s most-wanted fugitives.
He is accused of playing a central role in a $1.4 billion fraud case.
He fled the country in 2007.
Now, in what some describe as a bid to lure Liu back, the Chinese government is preventing his wife and children, who are American citizens, from leaving China.
Liu’s wife, Sandra Han, and their children, Victor and Cynthia, arrived in China in June to visit an ailing relative.
Han was detained, and the children have been held for months under a practice known as an exit ban.
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