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Meng Wanzhou: Huawei Chief Executive Can Be Extradited, Canada Says

The US wants Meng Wanzhou, Huawei chief financial officer, to stand trial on charges including fraud linked to the alleged violation of sanctions on Iran.

Meng was arrested in Canada in December at the request of the US. China said the case against Meng was an “abuse of the bilateral extradition treaty” between Canada and the US.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lu Kang said allowing the extradition hearing to go ahead was a “political incident”. China expressed its “strong dissatisfaction” and “resolute opposition” to the extradition proceedings, he said.

The high-profile detention has soured relations between China, the US and Canada.

US authorities filed almost two dozen charges against Huawei, the world’s second-largest smartphone maker, and Ms Meng in January, along with a formal request for her extradition.

The charges include bank fraud, obstruction of justice and theft of technology. Huawei and Ms Meng have both denied all the allegations.

Canada’s justice department had until Friday to decide whether or not the extradition case would proceed in Canadian courts.

That decision was based on whether the request complied with the requirements of the US-Canada extradition treaty, and could not be refused if so.

“An extradition hearing is not a trial, nor does it render a verdict of guilt or innocence,” the justice department said in a statement on Friday, announcing it was authorizing the extradition process in the case of Meng to proceed.

“If a person is ultimately extradited from Canada to face prosecution in another country, the individual will have a trial in that country.”

In a statement, Meng’s defense team said they were disappointed by the decision “in the face of the political nature of the US charges” and in the wake of comments made by the US president.

Donald Trump has twice suggested he would intervene in the US Justice Department’s case against Meng if it would serve national security interests or help achieve a trade deal with China.

“Our client maintains that she is innocent of any wrongdoing and that the US prosecution and extradition constitutes an abuse of the processes of law,” they said.

She is next scheduled to appear in the British Columbia Supreme Court on 6 March, when it will be confirmed Canada has issued the “Authority to Proceed” in her extradition to the US.

Her extradition hearing will also be scheduled at that time. This decision is still an early step in the process.

If a judge is satisfied with the evidence presented during the extradition hearing, he or she will authorize the individual be committed for extradition. The justice minister then decides whether to surrender the person to the US.

Meng does have avenues to appeal throughout the process. In some rare instances, extradition cases have dragged on for over a decade.

What was the reaction to her arrest?

Meng’s arrest infuriated Chinese officials, who insist that she has not violated any laws, and led to a rise in diplomatic tensions between China and Canada.

Canada says it is only following the rule of law in the case, but that has not satisfied China. Two Canadians are believed to have been detained in retaliation for Meng’s arrest.

Ex-diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor were both detained in China in mid-December on accusations of harming national security.

The case could also ratchet up tensions between China and the US, and impact the firm’s global expansion efforts.

What is Huawei accused of?

The US alleges Huawei misled the US and a global bank about its relationship with two subsidiaries, Huawei Device USA and Skycom Tech, to conduct business with Iran.

What was the reaction to her arrest?

Meng’s arrest infuriated Chinese officials, who insist that she has not violated any laws, and led to a rise in diplomatic tensions between China and Canada.

Canada says it is only following the rule of law in the case, but that has not satisfied China.

Two Canadians are believed to have been detained in retaliation for Meng’s arrest.

Ex-diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor were both detained in China in mid-December on accusations of harming national security. The case could also ratchet up tensions between China and the US, and impact the firm’s global expansion efforts.

What is Huawei accused of?

The US alleges Huawei misled the US and a global bank about its relationship with two subsidiaries, Huawei Device USA and Skycom Tech, to conduct business with Iran.—BBC

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