China has formally arrested two Canadians who have been detained in December last year?on suspicion of endangering national security, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said Thursday.

Michael Kovrig, a former Canadian diplomat, has been arrested by Chinese authorities in accordance with the law on suspicion of prying into state secrets and intelligence for overseas forces, Lu said at a regular news conference.

Michael Spavor, a Canadian businessman based in China, has also been arrested on suspicion of stealing and illegally providing state secrets to overseas forces, Lu added.