Canadian authorities failed to inform China about the arrest of the chief financial officer (CFO) of China's Huawei Technologies, Meng Wanzhou, immediately after it happened, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lu Kang said Tuesday, stressing that the information on the issue was received through other channels.
BEIJING (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 11th December, 2018) Canadian authorities failed to inform China about the arrest of the chief financial officer (CFO) of China's Huawei Technologies, Meng Wanzhou, immediately after it happened, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lu Kang said Tuesday, stressing that the information on the issue was received through other channels.Meng was arrested in the Canadian city of Vancouver on December 1 on suspicion of failing to comply with the US sanctions against Iran. The Chinese Embassy in Ottawa, in turn, has said that the actions of the Canadian authorities violated the executive's rights.
"First of all, a consular agreement between China and Canada clearly provides that in such situations the Canadian government should immediately inform the Chinese diplomatic missions in Canada. However, China was not informed immediately. We received information through other channels," Lu said during the briefing.
The spokesman noted that the Chinese officials were first to contact their Canadian counterparts on the matter.
China immediately responded by summoning the Canadian and US ambassadors in Beijing. China further announced that Meng was not guilty and should be released, adding there may otherwise be "severe consequences."
On Monday, during the second day of Meng's bail hearing in a Canadian court, her lawyers argued that she had to be released before extradition due to her poor health and strong ties with the city of Vancouver. A decision has not made yet, and the hearing is expected to continue.
