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The day that set the Michaels free

After 1,020 days in Chinese jail cells, the two Michaels — Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor — came home. CBC’s Jason Proctor and the University of Ottawa’s Errol Mendes break it down.
CBC News ·
Michael Kovrig, and Michael Spavor arrive in Canada with Canada's ambassador to China Dominic Barton, September 25, 2021. The Michaels were in detention in China for over 1,000 days. Many considered it a retaliatory detention against Canada for responding to a U.S. request for extradition of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou. (Government of Canada)
Front Burner21:13The day that set the Michaels free

After 1,020 days in Chinese jail cells, the two Michaels — Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor — came home. Mere hours later, Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou arrived in Shenzhen, China, to deliver an emotional speech surrounded by fanfare.  

Canada had started an extradition process for Meng in 2018 at the behest of the United States, which accused her of fraud. In an agreement struck with U.S. prosecutors on Friday, Meng pleaded not guilty but acknowledged misleading HSBC about Huawei's relationship with a company that operated in Iran.  

Today, CBC News' Jason Proctor in B.C. explains that agreement. Then Errol Mendes, professor of law at the University of Ottawa, offers the geopolitical context.