China calls on Canada to free Huawei CFO or face consequences

[rooster59]

China calls on Canada to free Huawei CFO or face consequences

By Ben Blanchard and David Ljunggren

 

Meng Wanzhou, Executive Board Director of the Chinese technology giant Huawei, attends a session of the VTB Capital Investment Forum "Russia Calling!" in Moscow, Russia October 2, 2014. REUTERS/Alexander Bibik

 

BEIJING/OTTAWA (Reuters) - China warned Canada on Saturday that there would be severe consequences if it did not immediately release Huawei Technologies Co Ltd's [HWT.UL] chief financial officer, calling the case "extremely nasty."

 

Meng Wanzhou, Huawei's global chief financial officer, was arrested in Canada on Dec. 1 and faces extradition to the United States, which alleges that she covered up her company's links to a firm that tried to sell equipment to Iran despite sanctions.

 

The executive is the daughter of the founder of Huawei.

 

If extradited to the United States, Meng would face charges of conspiracy to defraud multiple financial institutions, a Canadian court heard on Friday, with a maximum sentence of 30 years for each charge.

 

No decision was reached at the extradition hearing after nearly six hours of arguments and counter-arguments, and the hearing was adjourned until Monday.

 

In a short statement, China's Foreign Ministry said that Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng had issued the warning to release Meng to Canada's ambassador in Beijing, summoning him to lodge a "strong protest."

 

Adam Austen, a spokesman for Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland, said Saturday there is "nothing to add beyond what the Minister said yesterday".

 

Freeland told reporters on Friday that relationship with China is important and valued, and Canada's ambassador in Beijing has assured Chinese that consular access will be provided to Meng.

 

When asked about the possible Chinese backlash after the arrest of Huawei's CFO, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters on Friday that Canada has a very good relationship with Beijing.

 

Canada's arrest of Meng at the request of the United States while she was changing plane in Vancouver was a serious breach of her lawful rights, Le said.

 

The move "ignored the law, was unreasonable" and was in its very nature "extremely nasty," he added.

 

"China strongly urges the Canadian side to immediately release the detained person, and earnestly protect their lawful, legitimate rights, otherwise Canada must accept full responsibility for the serious consequences caused."

 

The statement did not elaborate.

 

"There will probably be a deep freeze with the Chinese in high-level visits and exchanges," David Mulroney, former Canadian ambassador to China, said on Friday.

 

"The ability to talk about free trade will be put in the ice box for a while. But we're going to have to live with that. That's the price of dealing with a country like China."

 

Meng's arrest was on the same day that U.S. President Donald Trump met in Argentina with China's Xi Jinping to look for ways to resolve an escalating trade war between the world's two largest economies.

 

“We are tracking the developments of this case and refer you to the filings in the Supreme Court of British Columbia,” said a U.S. State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

 

The news of Meng's arrest has roiled stock markets and drawn condemnation from Chinese authorities, although Trump and his top economic advisers have played down its importance to trade talks after the two leaders agreed to a truce.

 

A Huawei spokesman said on Friday the company has "every confidence that the Canadian and U.S. legal systems will reach the right conclusion." The company has said it complies with all applicable export control and sanctions laws and other regulations.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-12-09

[YetAnother]

12 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

That's the price of dealing with a country like China."

perfectly said; applies to all dealings with them

[lovelomsak]

36 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

That's the price of dealing with a country like China."

This is why I am so proud to be Canadian we state the obvious that others are afraid to say

[Somtamnication]

China should also release the thousands of journalists, professors and others in these private secret jails all over the country. Don't even get me started on the yhougours (spelling mistake, ethnic muslims).

[Brigand]

Didn't take China long to act like a bully and threaten serious consequences if they don't get their way. China needs to be taken to task on lots of things and so many countries look the other way because of the economic factor so this evil regime and system just laughs and thinks it can do whatever it wants.

[BestB]

I wonder on the legality of the matter . She was changing planes so she was in the airport. Connecting flights I presume , so she did not really Enter Canada per say

[300sd]

Good luck with this one Canada, you're going to need it. I hope you let her out on bail, at least, so she can skip out. 

 

 

 

 

[neeray]

1 hour ago, Brigand said:

Didn't take China long to act like a bully and threaten serious consequences if they don't get their way. China needs to be taken to task on lots of things and so many countries look the other way because of the economic factor so this evil regime and system just laughs and thinks it can do whatever it wants.

Governing by bully tactics and threats is the new norm. East emulates West.

[roquefort]

1 hour ago, Brigand said:

Didn't take China long to act like a bully and threaten serious consequences if they don't get their way. China needs to be taken to task on lots of things and so many countries look the other way because of the economic factor so this evil regime and system just laughs and thinks it can do whatever it wants.

You could substitute USA for China in your post and it still makes perfect sense.

[quandow]

Why do I sense a proxy war warming up?

[meinphuket]

With China kidnapping book store sellers (one with Swedish passport) and writers from Hong Kong, Thailand. Illegally holding US passport holders as blackmail for their father to return. Numerous dissidents locked up and disappeared,  1 million Uighurs in detention, who are they to claim human rights violations of this woman ? A company found on copied technology.  Time to teach this arrogant lot a good lesson.

[zydeco]

Trade war is becoming an even hotter war. As it must be, if China is to be stopped in time. And, yes, Thailand must pick a side this time, China or US.

[Ulic]

There is no doubt she is guilty. She basically admitted to it saying at a conference that you just have to weigh the benefits versus the costs when you decide to ignore a ban. 

[xMode]

2 hours ago, BestB said:

I wonder on the legality of the matter . She was changing planes so she was in the airport. Connecting flights I presume , so she did not really Enter Canada per say

She did enter Canada...EVERYONE from Asia transiting CANADA via air requires a visa except citizens of

Indonesia
Thailand
Taiwan 
the Philippines

[Srikcir]

2 hours ago, BestB said:

so she did not really Enter Canada per say

The airport transit areas remain sovereign territory of the nation on which the airport is located.  National and local laws apply, and national and local law enforcement officers have jurisdiction. 

A transit area is only for passenger convenience by avoiding entering and departing customs control stations. The transit area is not a "No Man's Land." If it was, it would be a bad place to put duty-free stores!

From https://www.aircanada.com/us/en/aco/home/fly/at-the-airport/airport-information/vancouver-Int-airport/int-int.html it appears that Vancouver International Airport does not have a transit area and one must go through Canada Customs when connecting between international flights.

The USA does not allow a passenger to make a "sterile" transit through the USA without a visa, and US airports are configured without transit areas. With the amount of air traffic connecting through Canada to the US, it wouldn't be surprising that Canada also wouldn't permit any sterile transit areas.

[Jonmarleesco]

6 hours ago, rooster59 said:

the United States, which alleges that she covered up her company's links to a firm that tried to sell equipment to Iran despite sanctions.

US sanctions, not Chinese sanctions.

[Jonmarleesco]

12 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

The airport transit areas remain sovereign territory of the nation on which the airport is located.  National and local laws apply, and national and local law enforcement officers have jurisdiction. 

A transit area is only for passenger convenience by avoiding entering and departing customs control stations. The transit area is not a "No Man's Land." If it was, it would be a bad place to put duty-free stores!

From https://www.aircanada.com/us/en/aco/home/fly/at-the-airport/airport-information/vancouver-Int-airport/int-int.html it appears that Vancouver International Airport does not have a transit area and one must go through Canada Customs when connecting between international flights.

The USA does not allow a passenger to make a "sterile" transit through the USA without a visa, and US airports are configured without transit areas. With the amount of air traffic connecting through Canada to the US, it wouldn't be surprising that Canada also wouldn't permit any sterile transit areas.

I've transited through Canada but can't remember details.

[BestB]

36 minutes ago, xMode said:

She did enter Canada...EVERYONE from Asia transiting CANADA via air requires a visa except citizens of

Indonesia
Thailand
Taiwan 
the Philippines

Why would you require visa if you do not even go through immigration on a connecting flight ?

[Redline]

About time Xi is being tested for real

[ReMarKable]

1 hour ago, xMode said:

She did enter Canada...EVERYONE from Asia transiting CANADA via air requires a visa except citizens of

Indonesia
Thailand
Taiwan 
the Philippines

Why the exclusion of folks from these nations?  All seem high risk for skipping out and working underground.

[from the home of CC]

 Canada - stuck in the middle 

 

  

[bristolboy]

2 hours ago, xMode said:

She did enter Canada...EVERYONE from Asia transiting CANADA via air requires a visa except citizens of

Indonesia
Thailand
Taiwan 
the Philippines

Mostly not true. It's only valid for people from those nations if they are departure is from the USA or their final destination is the USA.  There are other restrictions as well.

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/transit/without-visa/eligibility.html

[joecoolfrog]

6 hours ago, Brigand said:

Didn't take China long to act like a bully and threaten serious consequences if they don't get their way. China needs to be taken to task on lots of things and so many countries look the other way because of the economic factor so this evil regime and system just laughs and thinks it can do whatever it wants.

I dont say that the US has ever been near as evil as the present Chinese regime. However the US has certainly acted many times in precisely the manner you describe.

[bristolboy]

2 hours ago, Jonmarleesco said:

I've transited through Canada but can't remember details.

ptsd?

[Juan B Tong]

Way to go Canada!

 

 

[Mavideol]

10 hours ago, Somtamnication said:

China should also release the thousands of journalists, professors and others in these private secret jails all over the country. Don't even get me started on the yhougours (spelling mistake, ethnic muslims).

they said canada and US violated the lady's human rights..... china never violates human rights... LOL and if it doesn't go their way they move to play a ""Putin"" and use threats

[Mavideol]

5 hours ago, Ulic said:

There is no doubt she is guilty. She basically admitted to it saying at a conference that you just have to weigh the benefits versus the costs when you decide to ignore a ban. 

couldn't say it better.... great point

[Mavideol]

5 hours ago, Ulic said:

There is no doubt she is guilty. She basically admitted to it saying at a conference that you just have to weigh the benefits versus the costs when you decide to ignore a ban. 

China government says exactly the same, keeps doing exactly the same but goes on unstopped and/or unpunished

[Kiwiken]

6 hours ago, zydeco said:

Trade war is becoming an even hotter war. As it must be, if China is to be stopped in time. And, yes, Thailand must pick a side this time, China or US.

So you want a hot war? I hope you are willing to sacrifice your Grandchildren. China is demanding no less than other Countries do. Just that China has more clout. If the person detained was a European or British the respective Governments would demand the same.

The difference is if China applies financial thumb screws Canada will suffer badly.

[stevenl]

6 hours ago, zydeco said:

Trade war is becoming an even hotter war. As it must be, if China is to be stopped in time. And, yes, Thailand must pick a side this time, China or US.

Why would Thailand have to pick a side?