Canada on Friday launched the extradition of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou to the United States — the latest move in a case that has roiled…
Canada on Friday launched the extradition of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou to the United States — the latest move in a case that has roiled relations between the North American neighbors and China. Beijing was quick to react, saying Ottawa’s action amounted to a “severe political incident.”
The 47-year-old businesswoman was changing planes in Vancouver in December when she was detained at Washington’s request on suspicion of violating US sanctions on Iran — sparking arrests of Canadians in China that were seen as retaliatory.
“Today, 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. Meng, Huawei’s chief financial officer and the daughter of the company’s founder Ren Zhengfei, is due in court on March 6, when prosecutors will present the evidence against her and lay out detailed arguments for her extradition.
The decision, the statement said, followed a “thorough and diligent” review which found sufficient evidence to warrant putting the matter before a judge. At the end of the process — which could last months, or even years — Canada’s attorney general will have the final say on whether or not to hand Meng over.
