OTTAWA: Canada's foreign ministry confirmed Thursday that China has detained a second Canadian for what Beijing has said was suspicion of threatening its national security.

"We can confirm that a Canadian citizen, Michael Spavor, has been detained in China," Canada's Global Affairs said in a statement. "We have raised this case directly with the Chinese authorities. The Canadian government is seized of this case and will continue to speak with the Chinese government."

The ministry previously said former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig was arrested in Beijing on Monday.