In this courtroom sketch, Meng Wanzhou, right, the chief financial officer of Huawei Technologies, listens to the judge during a bail hearing at B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018. (Jane Wolsak/The Canadian Press via AP)
OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 6:49 AM PT — Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018
The Chinese technology executive, whose detainment kicked off a wave of international tension, is now a free woman. A Canadian judge released Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou on Tuesday after setting her bail at $10 million.
The executive is facing possible extradition to the U.S. after being detained in Vancouver earlier this month amid accusations that she used a shell company to circumvent Iranian sanctions.
“This is a situation where there has been no political interference at all, this has been purely a case of abiding by treaty obligations,” stated Chrystia Freeland, Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Scott Bradley, vice-president of corporate affairs for Huawei, is pictured outside a bail hearing Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver, British Columbia, Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press via AP)
Meng is now confined to her home in Vancouver, where she is being forced to wear an ankle bracelet. She also had to surrender her passports, and is required to pay for a 24/7 security detail.
Just hours before her bail hearing, China seemed to retaliate by detaining a former Canadian diplomat in Beijing.
“Obviously we are aware of the situation of the Canadian detained in China, we’ve been in direct contact with the Chinese diplomats and representatives, we are engaged in a file that we take very seriously and we’re, of course, providing consular services to the family,” stated Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Michael Kovrig — a diplomat who’s worked in China, Hong Kong and the United Nations — was taken into custody on Monday night during on of his routine visits.
Canada had been preparing for such a measure bu cancelling a trade mission amid fears China could use a detainment as a negotiating chip for Meng’s release.
“In China these is no coincidence and I’ve seen this many times when things happen, and if they want to send you a message they will send you a message,” said Guy Saint-Jacques, former ambassador to China – Canada.
The United States is also moving forward with caution as trade tensions with China remain a top priority for the Trump administration.State Department spokesman Robert Palladino maintained the actions against Meng involve her actions at Huawei and not ongoing trade negotiations.
“The United States is concerned by these reports that a Canadian citizen has been detained in China,” stated Palladino. “We’ve urged China to end all forms of arbitrary detention and to respect the protections and freedoms of all individuals under China’s international human rights and consular commitments.”
While Meng’s detention reportedly didn’t involve trade talks with China, President Trump said that doesn’t mean it can’t play a role. In an interview on Tuesday, the president told Reuters he would be willing to intervene in the U.S. effort to extradite Meng if it would help trade talks with China. He added, he hasn’t spoken to Chinese President Xi Jinping about the issue — at least not yet.
