China demands Canada release Huawei executive arrested in Vancouver
Posted December 6, 2018 4:20 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER — Chinese officials are demanding that Canada release Huawei Technologies’ chief financial officer, who was arrested in Vancouver over the weekend and faces possible extradition to the United States.
Foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told reporters today that the Chinese government also wants Canadian officials to reveal the reasoning behind Meng Wanzhou’s arrest in transit on Saturday. Geng also says Meng’s legal rights must be ensured, adding that neither Canadian nor American officials had so far responded to China’s concerns.
The comments come after China’s embassy in Ottawa said Wednesday night that Meng hasn’t violated any Canadian or American laws and called the arrest a serious violation of human rights.
A clerk at the B.C. Supreme Court says Meng appeared in court Wednesday and a bail hearing is scheduled for Friday.
Canadian Justice Department spokesman Ian McLeod says the U.S. is seeking Meng’s extradition, but couldn’t provide further details about the case because a publication ban is in effect at Meng’s request.
In April, China appealed to Washington to avoid damaging business confidence following a Wall Street Journal report that U.S. authorities were allegedly investigating whether Huawei violated sanctions on Iran amid spiralling technology tensions.
— With files from The Associated Press
The Canadian Press
