China confirms Canadian citizen punished for working illegally

China's Foreign Ministry on Thursday confirmed that a Canadian citizen has received administrative punishment for working illegally in the country.

"What I can tell you is that China and Canada are maintaining clear consular communication," Spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a daily news briefing, China Central Television reported.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday confirmed that a Canadian citizen, identified by The National Post as Sarah McIver from Alberta, has been detained in China, according to China Global Television Network, the English-language arm of CCTV.

Trudeau denied that the matter was linked to the earlier detention of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou in Canada, according to the report.

The latest detention appeared to be a routine case, not involving the sort of national security charges listed against the other two, Trudeau said.

The National Post on Thursday reported that McIver, "who had been teaching at a school in China," was taken into custody due to visa complications and arrangements were being made for her return to Canada, according to CGTN.