China releases Canadian citizen after 2 years of detention

A Canadian citizen detained in China on espionage charges has been released after more than two years in detention.

Citizen Kevin Garratt returned to reunite with his family on a flight that landed in Vancouver on the evening of September 15.

Canadian citizen Kevin Garratt and his wife. (Source: CBC)

Garratt came to China in 1984, working as an English teacher, running a kindergarten and in sales.

Garratt was arrested in August 2014 in the Chinese city of Dandong, which borders North Korea, where Garratt had run a cafe since 2008.

Chinese authorities have accused Garratt of espionage, including stealing military and defense research secrets. Canada, however, insists Garratt is a missionary, not a spy.

The move comes less than a month after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's visit to China and amid reports that Chinese Premier Li Keqiang will visit Canada next week.

Canadian sources said Garratt's release was the result of persistent negotiation efforts by the Canadian government, the Canadian Embassy in China and recent discussions between the two countries' prime ministers.

Four months ago, the Director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Michel Coulombe, also secretly traveled to China to discuss Garratt's release.

According to Vietnam+