US Administration on the Formal Extradition of Huawei’s CFO

US Administration on the 
Formal Extradition of Huawei’s CFO

Jan 24 2019

Citing Canada’s Globe and Mail broadsheet, Reuters said the Trump administration “will proceed with (requesting) the formal extradition from Canada of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou” to the US.

Word reportedly came from Canadian envoy to Washington David MacNaughton. Deadline for the request is January 30 – 60 days after Meng’s proper arrest and detention in Vancouver on December 1. 

She’s currently arrested and held in her house under round-the-clock-monitoring  in the city, treated well, unlike any other criminal.

What’s going on is part of Washington’s efforts to undermine China’s aim to become an economic, industrial, and technological powerhouse, including by targeting its tech giants like Huawei, serving US corporate interests, Ottawa acting as a US proxy.

China's state controlled Huawei is a tech giant, one of the world’s largest telecom equipment manufacturers, the second largest smartphone maker, a of the 100 Fortune global companies – of China’s most important enterprises.

It’s attempting to lead the race, rolling out next generation cutting-edge 5G technology for mobile Internet use, trying to beat US and European competitors. At stake are trillions of dollars of economic value. Huawei is targeted by Washington for spying.

Extraditing Meng to America for prosecution and potential imprisonment for alleged involvement in circumventing US sanctions on Iran will further strain Sino/US relations.

Beijing threatened “grave consequences” if Meng isn’t unconditionally released, indicating it’ll respond accordingly to protect the interests of its public and "so called" privately run enterprises.

Meng is due in court on February 6, for Canada's judiciary to rule up or down on Washington’s extradition requirement – or perhaps Canada’s Supreme Court if China appeals a perceived unjust ruling.

MacNaughton said Ottawa will honour Washington’s extradition request if judicially approved. Canada’s hasn’t commented on Washington’s formal extradition request so far, until recently by Canada's China amabssador, John McCallum.

A US Justice Department spokesman said “(w)e will comment through our filings.” Once received, a Canadian court has 30 days to decide if evidence warrants extradition.

China’s envoy to Canada Lu Shaye called Meng’s arrest and potential extradition to the US “politically motivated…backstabbing,” adding the action was “unprecedented.”

Lu angrily criticised that a “war of words will only escalate tensions instead of easing” them between both countries.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying earlier said that “(a)t the behest of the US side, (Canada) illegally detained the senior manager of the Chinese company who has violated no Canadian laws as the Canadian side itself has acknowledged. This action, which is far from legal, legitimate and reasonable, merits being an arbitrary detention.”

If Meng is extradited to America for prosecution and imprisonment, China warned both countries it’ll retaliate –  against more high-profile US private or public officials in the country.

What’s going on  hugely affects ongoing Sino/US trade talks. Major issues remain unresolved ahead of an agreed on, March 1 deadline.

Under ideal conditions, it’s highly  uncertain whether Washington and Beijing can agree on a deal acceptable to both countries.

Extraditing Meng to America for prosecution will put any agreement, soon out of reach.