Contrary to earlier reports, Canadian Embassy officials in Beijing have talked with the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and confirm there’s been no development in the cases of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor.

Officials say the confusion had to do with an inaccurate characterization of the process made by a foreign affairs ministry spokesperson, who had said the Michaels had been ”arrested, indicted and tried”.

China has said they’re being held on suspicion of national security crimes.

China insists their cases are not connected to the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou, yet always ties the Canadians to its demands Meng be released.

Meanwhile, the U.S. is marking the second anniversary of their detenention by echoing Canada’s calls for their immediate release.

A statement from the acting American ambassador to Canada, Katherine Brucker, says Kovrig and Spavor are being arbitrarily and unjustly detained.