China lashes out at Canada for signing declaration against arbitrary detention

Statement made no mention of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor but Canada has tried to build global support to secure their release

China has lashed out against Canada for signing a declaration denouncing the arbitrary detention of foreign citizens, describing the move as a despicable and hypocritical act" as relations between the two countries remain tense.

Earlier this week, Canada and 57 other nations, including the US, UK, Australia, Germany and Sweden, jointly signed a declaration condemning the use of arbitrary detention for political purposes.