In return for Huawei manager: China releases jailed Canadians

In return for Huawei manager
China releases detained Canadians

Huawei’s chief financial officer Meng has been detained in Canada for almost three years on charges of fraud. Now she reaches a deal with the US judiciary and a Canadian court decides: the manager is free. China reacts promptly and in turn releases two Canadian businessmen from custody.

The chief financial officer of the Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei, Meng Wanzhou, who was held in Canada for almost three years, is free again. Meng reached an agreement with the US judiciary. A Canadian court then stopped the extradition proceedings against her and lifted her bail obligations. Meng boarded a plane to China shortly afterwards. In return, China released two Canadians imprisoned in the People’s Republic.

The Huawei finance director was arrested in December 2018 at the instigation of the United States on a layover in Vancouver. The 49-year-old daughter of the Huawei company founder Ren Zhengfei had to stay under strict conditions in a property in the western Canadian city for almost three years. Among other things, she had to wear an electronic ankle cuff. The US judiciary accused Meng of bank fraud in connection with the Iran sanctions and demanded her extradition. Meng’s lawyers, however, spoke of abuse of procedure. The Chinese government accused the US of targeting Huawei.

On Friday, a US court approved an agreement between Meng and the prosecutor. A Justice Department representative told a federal court in New York that some sort of probation procedure has been agreed. The allegations against the top manager should therefore be suspended and dropped entirely in December 2022 if Meng adheres to the conditions. A court in Vancouver then stopped the extradition proceedings against Meng. “I signed the release order,” announced Judge Heather Holmes at the end of the brief hearing. “In the past three years my life has been turned upside down,” Meng told journalists after the hearing. “It was a tough time for me as a mother, wife and manager. But I believe that rain follows sunshine.” The time in Canada was also a “valuable experience” for her. As seen on Canadian television, Meng boarded a plane to the Chinese economic metropolis of Shenzhen on Friday evening.

Canadians arrested in retaliation for Meng?

Meng’s arrest created a serious diplomatic crisis between China and Canada. A few days after Meng’s arrest, Chinese authorities arrested two Canadians. Businessman Michael Spavor and ex-diplomat Michael Kovrig were tried in March on charges of espionage. Spavor was sentenced to 11 years in prison in August for “espionage and the illegal disclosure of state secrets”. According to the Canadian ambassador, the Chinese authorities accused him, among other things, of taking banned photos of military aircraft. The verdict against Kovrig was still pending.

Shortly after Meng’s release, Spavor and Kovrig were also released from custody. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the two men were allowed to leave the country immediately after their release. They have already left Chinese airspace and are “on their way home,” said Trudeau. The case created a serious diplomatic crisis between China and Canada. The arrest of the two Canadians was seen as retaliation for Meng’s detention in Canada – and as leverage against the Ottawa government. Canada and other western states accused Beijing of “hostage diplomacy”.

Huawei is one of the world’s largest telecommunications equipment manufacturers and a leader in 5G technology. The US in particular accuses Huawei of being too close to the Chinese authorities and sees the group as a threat to their cybersecurity. There are also fears of this kind in Germany.

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