Shanghai | China has charged two Canadians with espionage, a decision that will further inflame tensions with Ottawa and Washington and caps off a fiery week for Beijing's dealings with the rest of the world.

Former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor are alleged to have spied on national secrets. The charges, announced on Friday, carry a maximum penalty of life in prison in China where the conviction rates for such cases is almost 100 per cent.