China again demands release of Huawei CFO as she sues Canada

World Today

China reiterates that it’s demanding the release of a top Huawei executive in Canada. Meng Wanzhou’s lawyers have filed a suit against Ottawa.

They claim her arrest was unconstitutional. She faces possible extradition to the U.S., over fraud charges involving sanctions on Iran.

CGTN’s Hendrik Sybrandy reports from Vancouver.

On Wednesday, Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou was already due in court in Vancouver. Now, she claims her constitutional rights were violated and is suing Canada for false imprisonment.

Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou was arrested at Vancouver International Airport on December 1st as she changed planes to go to Mexico. She was detained on a warrant from the United States, which alleges she misled banks into processing transactions for Huawei that potentially violated sanctions against trade with Iran.

On Dec. 11, a Vancouver judge granted Meng bail set at $7.5 million. She was released and was ordered confined to her home and to the Vancouver area. Last week, Canada’s Justice Department ordered the start of extradition hearings against Meng, extradition to the U.S.

Meantime, Meng filed suit on March 1 against the Canada Border Services Agency, Canadian police and its government alleging that she was illegally searched and questioned on Dec. 1, alleging a “breach of constitutional rights.” China has claimed this was an illegal arrest from the beginning of the crisis.

“The U.S. and Canada have abused their bilateral extradition agreement and arbitrarily taken compulsory measures on a Chinese citizen, which constitutes a serious violation of the legal rights and interests of the Chinese citizen,” Lu Kang, spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said. “We once again urge the U.S. side to immediately withdraw the arrest warrant and extradition request for Ms. Meng Wanzhou and urge the Canadian side to immediately release Ms. Meng Wanzhou and ensure that she returns to China safe and sound.”

For its part, Canada said its decision to extradite was done following a “thorough and diligent review of the evidence in the case” and that Canada is simply following the rule of law and complying with its legal arrangements with the U.S. It’s expected that an extradition hearing date will be set here at British Columbia Supreme Court on Wednesday.