March 29, 2024
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On Friday Canada says it will allow the extradition hearing against Huawei Cheif Executive Meng Wanzhou to move forward.

“The Department of Justice Canada officials issued an Authority to Proceed, formally commencing an extradition process in the case of Ms. Meng Wanzhou,” the government said in a statement.

Ms Meng was arrested in Canada in December at US request while she was changing planes in Vancouver. Meng, Huawei’s chief financial officer and the daughter of the company’s founder Ren Zhengfei,

The US wants Meng Wanzhou, Huawei chief financial officer, to stand trial on charges including fraud linked to the alleged violation of sanctions on Iran.

US authorities filed almost two dozen charges against Huawei and Ms Meng in January. The charges include bank fraud, obstruction of justice and theft of technology.

Foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said in a statement the US and Canada were “abusing their bilateral extradition treaty to apply arbitrary coercive measures against Chinese citizens, in violation of their rights and legitimate interests”.

“This is a severe political incident.”

China had “solemnly protested” to the Canadian authorities for Meng’s release, and called on the US to drop its arrest warrant and extradition request, Lu added.

Meng has been released on bail pending the outcome of the hearings.

China is furious over the US charges against Meng, saying they are the product of “strong political motivations” and an attempt to undermine its flagship telecoms company.

Meanwhile Huawei and Ms Meng have both denied all the allegations.

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