The Weekend Intelligence: Black boxes (part one): Michael Kovrig on how he became a political hostage in China
The Intelligence from The Economist
The Economist
4.5 • 3.7K Ratings
🗓️ 5 October 2024
⏱️ 33 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
One evening, Michael Kovrig, a former Canadian diplomat, grabbed a late dinner in Beijing with his partner. When they arrived back at his apartment, men in black were waiting for them. Mr Kovrig was pushed into a waiting SUV. Handcuffed and blindfolded, he was driven to a detention centre in southern Beijing that would be his home for the next 1,019 days. September 24th 2024 is the third anniversary of Mr Kovrig’s release. And now he is ready to talk publicly about his ordeal.
On the Weekend Intelligence, we bring you the first in a two-part series from Drum Tower, our weekly podcast on China. David Rennie, The Economist’s geopolitics editor, speaks with Mr Kovrig about the night he was seized, and how his detention was part of a far bigger geopolitical game.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Let me tell you one thing my granddad doesn't know. I don't actually like fish paste sandwiches. |
| 0:05.9 | I just don't want to offend him when I pop over for lunch. Mm, fishy bread. |
| 0:11.3 | We've all got something we haven't told our parents or grandparents, |
| 0:14.0 | as sometimes it's just easier that way. But here's something you really do need to let them know. |
| 0:20.2 | Thousands of people over the age of 66 are missing out on pension credit worth on average |
| 0:25.0 | 3,900 pounds a year. |
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| 0:32.2 | if they apply by December 21st. |
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| 1:02.0 | Subject to application eligibility and credit check, T's and fees and charges apply. |
| 1:05.4 | At H.S.C. UK, you're backed by the current account switch guarantee. The Economist. I'm Rosie Blore and you're listening to the weekend intelligence. |
| 1:28.0 | This week we're doing something a bit different, sharing with you two special editions of Drum Tower, our sister show about China. |
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