Beijing Urges Washington To Refrain From Demanding Huawei CFO's Extradition From Canada

Beijing Urges Washington to Refrain From Demanding Huawei CFO's Extradition From Canada

Beijing reiterated on Tuesday its demand for the immediate release of the chief financial officer (CFO) of Chinese tech giant Huawei, Meng Wanzhou, arrested in Canada late last year, and urged Washington to not send an official request to Ottawa for the Chinese national's extradition, the spokeswoman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday

BEIJING (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 22nd January, 2019) Beijing reiterated on Tuesday its demand for the immediate release of the chief financial officer (CFO) of Chinese tech giant Huawei, Meng Wanzhou, arrested in Canada late last year, and urged Washington to not send an official request to Ottawa for the Chinese national's extradition, the spokeswoman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

Earlier on Tuesday, the CNN broadcaster reported, citing Canadian Ambassador to the United States David MacNaughton, that the diplomat expected the US authorities to soon formally request Ottawa to extradite the Huawei official to the United States. According to MacNaughton, Washington has until January 30 to file the request.

"[Beijing] insists that the Canadian side immediately release Meng Wanzhou and guarantee that her legal rights and interests are respected ... We also strongly urge the United States to immediately correct its wrongdoings, cancel the arrest warrant for Meng Wanzhou and to not send a formal extradition request to the Canadian side," Hua Chunying told a briefing.

Meng was arrested in Vancouver on December 1, 2018 at the United States' request, reportedly for failing to comply with US sanctions against Iran. The arrest was decried by Beijing, which demanded that Canadian authorities immediately release the Chinese national.

Chinese-Canadian relations were further strained following the detention of two Canadian citizens, former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor, in China shortly after Meng's arrest. While the detentions have been widely regarded as Beijing's retaliation for the arrest of the Huawei executive, Chinese authorities have denied the allegations, insisting that the two men posed a threat to national security.