A former Canadian diplomat, Michael Kovrig has reportedly been detained in China and his current employer says it is working for his “prompt and safe release”.
The International Crisis Group said it was “aware of reports” of Michael Kovrig ‘s detention.
Details were not yet clear. The news comes days after Canadian authorities arrested a top Huawei executive in Vancouver.
It was not clear if there was a link between the two cases.
Tensions between Canada and China have been high over the arrest of Meng Wanzhou, Huawei’s chief financial officer and daughter of its founder, on Saturday.
Mr. Kovrig had previously worked as a diplomat in Beijing, Hong Kong and at the UN in New York.
Canada’s ministry of foreign affairs has not confirmed the report by Reuters news agency, which cited two unnamed sources.
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Mr. Kovrig has been working since February 2017 as North East senior advisor for the International Crisis Group, a Brussels-based think tank that focuses on conflict reduction research.
He worked with Canada’s foreign affairs ministry between 2010 and 2016 and was posted in Hong Kong and Beijing between 2012 and 2016.
China has demanded that Canada release of Ms. Meng or face consequences. The US is seeking her extradition.