Thirteen Canadians have been detained in China following the arrest on December 1 of a senior executive from Chinese telecoms equipment giant Huawei, Ottawa said Thursday, with eight subsequently released.

Global Affairs Canada spokesperson Guillaume Berube confirmed the detentions to AFP, adding the figures excluded Hong Kong.

The thirteen include former diplomat Michael Kovrig and consultant Michael Spavor, arrested on December 10, for activities said to threaten national security, as well as Sarah McIver, who was subsequently freed and returned to Canada.

China "safeguards the security and legitimate rights and interests of foreign citizens" in the country, said spokesman for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lu Kang on Friday at a regular press briefing, adding that he didn't have information on the specific cases.

There are approximately 200 Canadians overall who have been detained in China for a variety of alleged infractions and continue to face ongoing legal proceedings, and the number has remained relatively stable in recent years.

By way of comparison, there are almost 900 Canadians in a similar situation in the US.

Some observers believe the detentions of Kovrig, who works for the International Crisis Group, and Spavor, who is frequently consulted on matters linked to North Korea, were retaliatory actions following the arrest in Vancouver of Huawei's Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou, who faces extradition to the United States.

Washington has accused her of fraud for helping evade US sanctions against Iran. She was later released on bail pending her extradition hearing.

Backed by the US and several European countries, Canada's foreign minister Chrystia Freeland has repeated called for the immediate release of Kovrig and Spavor, whose arrests Ottawa has termed arbitrary.

US warns citizens of arbitrary action in China
Washington (AFP) Jan 4, 2019 - The United States warned its citizens Thursday they could face arbitrary action by authorities when they visit China, following the detention of a number of Canadians.

Updating a travel advisory, the State Department maintained its previous guidance that Americans should "exercise increased caution" in China but stopped short of discouraging visits.

While the language was largely the same as earlier, the State Department warned of "arbitrary enforcement of local laws," sudden prohibitions on exiting the country and harassment of US citizens of Chinese heritage.

"In most cases, US citizens only become aware of the exit ban when they attempt to depart China, and there is no method to find out how long the ban may continue," it said.

"US citizens under exit bans have been harassed and threatened," it said.

It also advised Americans to look out for last-minute security checks and curfews in Xinjiang and Tibet, two minority-dominated regions where Beijing has sought to impose strict control.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, asked about the updated advisory in a televised interview, said the State Department wanted Americans to "understand the risk but still travel there when it's appropriate."

"We wanted to let them know that there have been more risks from what China has done in terms of folks traveling there and not being permitted to return," Pompeo told Fox News host Sean Hannity.

China has detained 13 Canadians since early December when a senior executive of Chinese telecom giant Huawei was arrested in Vancouver on a US request for alleged violations of Washington's sanctions on Iran, according to Ottawa.

Two of the arrests -- of former diplomat Michael Kovrig and consultant Michael Spavor -- were widely viewed as retaliation for the arrest of Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou, who is facing extradition to the United States.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang hit back at a regular press briefing in Beijing Friday.

"The travel warning issued by the US, frankly speaking, does not stand," he said.

"China always welcomes foreign citizens -- including US citizens -- to visit China, and protects their security and legal rights, including freedom of entry and exit."

China last year appeared to hit back at the US travel advice by issuing its own guidance to Chinese coming to the United States, warning of the risk of mass shootings and the high cost of health care.

Despite rising political friction, the two countries remain among the top sources of visitors to each other, with China by far the largest provider of foreign students to the United States.

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