China charges two detained Canadians with spying

China has charged two detained Canadians with spying in cases linked to Canada's arrest of a Huawei executive on U.S. charges.

Chinese prosecutors said Friday that Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor have been charged.

In apparent retaliation for the arrest of Meng Wanzhou, the daughter of Huawei's founder and chief financial officer of the company, China detained former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig and Canadian entrepreneur Michael Spavor.

China has also placed restrictions on various Canadian exports to China, including canola oil seed. China also handed a death sentence to a convicted Canadian drug smuggler in a sudden retrial.

Huawei is the biggest global supplier of network gear for phone and internet companies and some analysts say Chinese companies have flouted international rules and norms amid allegations of technology theft.

The company represents China's progress in becoming a technological power and has been a subject of U.S. security and law enforcement concerns.