December 8, 2018
Meng Wanzhou, CFO of Huawei. Photo: Tass/Alamy.
Iran is the country mentioned for the arrest of the chief financial officer of the largest telecommunication firm in the world, but it is also a warning to China that the U.S. is willing to go after any country trading telecommunication advances with sanctioned countries, including Cuba. This is yet another example of the imperial extraterritoriality exceptionalism of the U.S. that has fined scores of foreign banks billions for doing business with countries they are trying to destroy. – editorial
On Saturday the Chinese Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, Le Yucheng, warned the Canadian ambassador in Beijing, John McCallum, of the serious consequences for the imprisonment of Meng Wanzhou, executive director of the technological giant Huawei.
The Chinese official reiterated the demand for her immediate release and to protect her legitimate and legal rights, or else Canada will be held responsible for the case. “Meng’s detention is a serious violation of her legal rights. It is illegal, irrational and despicable,” the deputy minister added.
Canadian prosecutor John Gibb-Carsley objected and called on the court to deny that recourse by asserting that Meng ‘runs an extreme risk of flight’ from Canada because the United States wants her extradition.
Washington asked Ottawa to arrest her on charges of violating sanctions against Iran, for which she could be sentenced to up to 30 years in prison.
The Canadian department of justice made the arrest on December 1st at the Vancouver airport, while Meng was about to take a connecting flight to Mexico.
Huawei denied the accusation and ensured it was in compliance with all regulations of the territories where it operates.
In addition, the Chinese government recalled that as a permanent member of the UN Security Council it always implemented the resolutions passed by that body, but at the same time rejected the imposition of unilateral measures by one state against another.
However, the Chinese government ruled out the possibility that the case might affect the bilateral negotiations under way with the United States to find a satisfactory solution to the disagreements, especially in the economic-commercial sphere of trade.
But observers warn of the consequences for Canada because it is under pressure from Washington to halt the purchase of Huawei equipment for 5G connection, the fastest connection speed.
Coincidentally, Japan – an Asian ally of Washington – is planning to veto the acquisition of devices manufactured by Huawei and its compatriot ZTE for public entities.
Source: Cubadebate, translation Resumen Latinoamericano, North America bureau