Politics

Huawei and China protest Canadian court decision against tech CEO

Beijing, May 28 (efe-epa).- Huawei on Thursday reiterated its confidence in its CEO, who is fighting extradition to the United States, after a Canadian court ruled that her case can proceed.

Meng Wanzhou, the daughter of Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei, is wanted by Washington on charges of bank fraud and violation of US sanctions against Iran.

She is said to have misled banks about alleged dealings a Huawei subsidiary had with Iran.

Her attorneys have argued that because Canada is not a party to the US sanctions, the charges against her do not constitute a crime under Canadian law.

But a Canadian judge ruled on Wednesday that the case meets the threshold of double criminality and can proceed.

Her case has put a strain on Chinese-Canadian relations, with authorities in China filing fresh complaints against Ottawa.

The Chinese telecommunications giant has also reiterated its confidence in Meng’s innocence.

“We have repeatedly expressed confidence in Ms Meng’s innocence. Huawei continues to stand with Ms Meng in her pursuit for justice and freedom,” the company said in a statement.

It added: “We hope that Canada’s judicial system will eventually prove Meng’s innocence. Her lawyers will continue to work tirelessly to see that justice is done.”

The Chinese Embassy in Ottawa also released a statement expressing China’s “strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition” to the court’s decision and said it has made “serious representations with Canada”.

“The United States and Canada, by abusing their bilateral extradition treaty and arbitrarily taking forceful measures against Ms Meng Wanzhou, gravely violated the lawful rights and interests of the said Chinese citizen,” it added in a statement.

“The purpose of the United States is to bring down Huawei and other Chinese high-tech companies, and Canada has been acting in the process as an accomplice of the United States.”

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said that the country’s justice system is independent and that the government cannot intervene in court decisions.

The Chinese Embassy described the decision to go ahead with Meng’s extradition process as a “grave political incident” and called for Meng’s immediate release and safe return to China. EFE-EPA

pk-vec/rb

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