Politics and Travel Security: When States Turn on their Guests

The arrests of Canadian businessman Michael Spavor and former diplomat Michael Kovrig in China in December 2018, just days after Huawei’s chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou’s arrest in Vancouver, were undoubtedly linked. Despite China’s espionage allegations against the pair and their subsequent convictions, they were released shortly after Meng was freed. Spavor and Kovrig’s arrests demonstrated China’s increased assertiveness in standing up for its citizens and interests globally. In this article, Saif Islam explores some of the most common and often overlapping politically motivated drivers of detention or deportation of foreign nationals around the world.  

Geopolitical tensions

Geopolitics remains one of the most common drivers of wrongful detention of foreign nationals. Countries that rival, or oppose certain actions of, the US or other Western states – such as China, Iran, North Korea, Venezuela, and Russia – are known for targeting their citizens, permanent residents, and dual nationals. Detention is often a more effective foreign policy tool than overt aggression in the international arena. Specific motivations for arrests vary, from retaliatory or punitive measures against a geopolitical foe to the use of detainees as leverage to gain political or economic concessions. Iran, which finds itself geopolitically isolated and under major international sanctions, often resorts to such tactics, even against Western countries with which it has relatively positive or neutral relations. Individuals with a government, military, intelligence, academic, journalism, and NGO background, face the highest risk, although given the politically motivated nature of these arrests, anyone can be targeted.

Armed conflict or political instability

During an armed conflict or periods of heightened political instability, foreign nationals of diverse backgrounds might get detained by a legitimate government, a competing or rival authority, or even an armed faction in control of a certain area. The risk also increases when borders are closed, and evacuation is not an option. There are multiple reasons for detaining foreign nationals, including the prevention of the spread of critical news and information about developments on the ground, the attempt to embarrass or put pressure on the detainees’ home governments due to political differences, or the detainees’ real or perceived support for a rival faction. The targets of these arrests vary, from journalists to NGO workers, doctors, dual nationals, and ordinary workers.

Authoritarian tendencies

Repressive governments can target foreign nationals and dual citizens if they are or perceived to be critical of local authorities, supportive of local opposition groups or NGOs, or advocates of the strategic interests of foreign countries. These regimes, which are intolerant of dissent, often have laws that restrict freedom of expression or association. Any criticism of the government as well as the local culture or customs is prohibited or strongly discouraged and may carry the threat of arrest and prosecution. The laws can also be quite vague and open to broad interpretations by local authorities, making it easy to arrest people under dubious pretexts. Furthermore, foreign nationals can be detained over mere suspicions, even if they do not formally break any laws. Journalists, NGO officials and academics are most likely victims of such incidents.