China Throws Its Weight on Canada Over Huawei CFO Arrest
What’s Happening?
On Saturday, Beijing issued a stark warning to Canada: release Huawei’s chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, or face serious fallout. The Chinese foreign ministry called the case “extremely nasty,” and threatened severe consequences if her detention continues.
The Back‑story
– Meng was snared in Canada on Dec 1 while changing flights in Vancouver, on a U.S. request.
– The U.S. alleges she hid Huawei’s ties to a firm trying to sell tech to Iran, flouting sanctions.
– If extradited, she could face multiple charges of conspiracy to defraud, each with up to 30 years in prison.
Legality Plot Twist
The extradition hearing, which ran nearly six hours, reached no decision by Friday Dec 7 and was postponed to Monday, Dec 10. The Canadian court said it didn’t have a clear verdict yet.
China’s Hefty Response
In a brief statement, China’s Foreign Ministry said Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng warned Cam‑ball’s ambassador at the Beijing embassy to “strongly protest.” Le called the arrest a “serious breach of Meng’s lawful rights” and slammed the move as “unreasonable” and “extremely nasty.” He urged Canada to “immediately release” the detained executive or accept the full weight of consequence.
Why It Matters
Her arrest happened the same day U.S. President Donald Trump met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Argentina, where the two leaders were rolling back a trade standoff. The detention rattled markets and drew criticism from China, though Trump’s adviser team has downplayed its impact on trade talks.
Huawei’s Stand
A Huawei spokesperson said the company has “every confidence that the Canadian and U.S. legal systems will reach a fair conclusion.” The firm re‑affirmed its compliance with export controls, sanctions, and other regulations.
