Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor arrive in Canada after nearly 3-year detention in China

Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor are back on home soil,almost three years after they were first detained in China.

The two men landed in Calgary shortly before 8 a.m. ET Saturday aboard a Royal Canadian Air Force Challenger aircraft. Prime Minister Justin Trudeauand Foreign Affairs Minister Marc Garneauwereat the airport to welcome the two men, who had flown from China along with ambassador Dominic Barton.

Trudeau announced Friday evening that the two were out of Chinese airspace, just hours after the extradition case against Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou was dropped. Mengreached a deferred prosecution agreementwith U.S. authoritiesrelated to fraud charges against her on Friday and landed back in China Saturday morning.

Michael Kovrigreboarded a plane in Calgary to flyon to Toronto, whereVina Nadjibulla, his wife(separated), and his sisterAriana Bothaspokebefore he landed.

"There are no words to describe the emotions that have been running through us these last 24 hours. Joy, relief, overwhelming gratitude for everyone who has worked to make this happen," Nadjibulla said.

She said she had spoken over the phone with Kovrig while he was in Calgary and said he felt it was like "coming into another world."

Kovrig spoke briefly to reporters after he landed early Saturday afternoon, saying he felt "fantastic."

Kovrig, a diplomat, and Spavor,an entrepreneur who worked in North Korea and China, were first detained in December 2018just after Meng was arrested in Canada on behalf of U.S. authorities. Theirdetention is widely considered to be a retaliatory action in response to the Huawei executive's arrest.

'Sorry for the inconvenience caused': Meng

Chinese authorities had consistently denied that the cases were linked. In a statement Saturday, China's foreign ministry said the charges against Meng were "purely fabricated."

"It has long been a fully proven fact that this is an incident of political persecution against a Chinese citizen, an act designed to hobble Chinese high-tech companies," the statement said.

Spavorwas found guilty of spying and sentenced to 11 years in prison and deportation bya Chinese court in August. The trial for Kovrigconcluded in March, but he had not yet been sentenced.

Watch | Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou arrives in China

Meng Wanzhou arrives in China after dropped extradition case

3 years ago

Duration 3:37

Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou landed back in China on Saturday morning after a B.C. court dropped her extradition case following a plea agreement with the United States.

Speaking Friday outside a Vancouver courthouse after her extradition case was dropped, Meng thanked the court and the Canadian government for "upholding the rule of law."

"I'm also grateful to the Canadian people and media friends for your tolerance. Sorry for the inconvenience caused," she said.

Meng spent her time in Canada under house arrest at her multimillion-dollar home in Vancouver, in stark contrast to Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, who endured poor conditions in detention and whose legal processes were criticized by Canadian officials. Foreign Affairs Minister Marc Garneausaid Spavor's sentencing followed a "mock sham trial."

Timing shows clear link between cases,experts say

The timing of the releases of Meng, and Spavor and Kovrig, show China clearly saw a connection between the two, severaldiplomats and foreign policy experts told CBC News.

"China ... up until now, has said that there's been no linkage between the two, but by putting them on the plane [Friday night], they've clearly acknowledged that this was hostage-taking," said Colin Robertson, a former Canadian diplomat for more than 30 years.

LISTEN |Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor freed:

CBC News: The House14:38Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor freed

What does Fridays turn of events all mean for Canada's relationship with China? Experts Colin Robertson, Guy Saint-Jacques and Lynette Ong join The House to discuss.

Robertson told CBC's The House"itreally was one for the other" in an exchange that was reminiscent of Cold War swaps.

"The timing, it's totally undeniable that the two Michaels were unjustly detained because of the arrest of Ms. Meng in Vancouver," Lynette Ong, a specialist on China at the Munk School of Global Affairs,toldThe Househost Chris Hall.

The rapid series of events Friday"was a surprise," saidMargaret McCuaig-Johnston, a senior fellow at Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Ottawa.

Watch |Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor are back in Canada

Kovrig, Spavor return to Canadian soil after detention in China

3 years ago

Duration 8:04

Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig have returned to Canada nearly three years after they were arrested in China under espionage charges. They arrived in Calgary aboard a Royal Canadian Air Force Challenger on Saturday morning, and Kovrig later flew to Toronto.

She noted that Spavor's and Kovrig's detentionhadalready sent a message to other countries "that if they cross China, then Beijing will just pick up a couple of their citizens and hold them hostage."

"And that's a chilling message for other countries to be receiving today."

Robertson said Canadians should give significant credit for the release of the men to U.S. President Joe Biden.

"As the prime minister said, this was the top issue in terms of Canada-China relations, but also a top issue in Canada-U.S. relations," he said. "President Biden has delivered now for Justin Trudeau.

Watch |Kevin Garratt reacts to return of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor

Former detainee shares his experience after being released by China

3 years ago

Duration 6:48

Kevin Garratt was detained in China in 2014 after being accused of spying and stealing state secrets. He shares his reaction to the release of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, and what he went through after being released by the Chinese government.

Changed relationship with China

The release of the two men was enthusiastically welcomed by Canadian politicians late Friday.

Trudeau has said the return of the so-called "two Michaels"has been a top foreign policy priority for the government. David Morrison, a foreign affairs and defence adviser to the prime minister, and Kirsten Hillman, ambassador to the United States, were both deeply involved in the efforts leading up to the release of the two Michaels.

But the prime minister deflectedquestions Friday about how the return on the two men would affect Canada's relationship with China.

Guy Saint-Jacques, who served as Canada's ambassador to China from 2012 to 2016, said it is impossible to ignore China, given its strength and importance in the world, but the approach should be "strategic" and "restrained."

"The message to China is simple, it'swe have no problem with you being a superpower. But as long as you respect international treaties, international obligations and you don't engage in bullying tactics," he said.

Ong said she believesthe relationship with China has been permanently damaged. She said public opinion in Canadahasturned decisively against China and a return to normal would be "very hard" to execute.

"I don't think Canada-China relations could actually be repaired. We're living in an entirely different world now."