Chinese ambassador to Canada holds phone talk with Huawei's Meng
Updated 09:54, 01-Dec-2020
CGTN

Chinese Ambassador to Canada Cong Peiwu held a telephone conversation with Huawei's Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Meng Wanzhou on Monday, reiterating that China will earnestly urge Canada to respect China's solemn position and concerns, release her as soon as possible and ensure her safe return to China.

Meng was arrested at Vancouver International Airport on a warrant for extradition to the U.S. on December 1, 2018.

Huawei said it trusts the Canadian judicial system to "uphold integrity and ensure justice for all."

"Huawei has always had great confidence in Meng Wanzhou's innocence. We will continue to support her in unveiling the truth behind the abuse of her rights," Huawei said in a statement on Meng's case.

Over the past two years, Meng has lost and won in the court.

On May 27, a Canadian judge ruled that the extradition case against Meng can proceed as her case meets the Canadian extradition standard of "double criminality."

In late October, however, the judge agreed with Meng's legal team that the record of the case for extradition should include an omission from a summary of the Power Point presentation. It stated that Huawei's engagement with Skycom was "normal and controllable business cooperation."

This lends some weight to Meng's contention that the U.S. misrepresented evidence, but not enough to dismiss the case.

The debate has been focusing on Meng's allegations that the judicial process has been abused and her civil liberties violated under Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

In recent weeks, the court has been hearing testimony from the border security and police officers who detained and arrested Meng.

Meng said Canadian officials committed several violations in the course of her "arbitrary detention": a three-hour delay in her arrest; seizure of her electronic devices for criminal investigation under the guise of a routine immigration examination; compelling her to provide passwords; and failing to advise her of the reason for detention and of her right to counsel.

The extradition case is expected to continue until at least April 30 next year.

Meanwhile, Meng remains under house arrest at Vancouver.

If Canada rules to process Meng's extradition, it could cast a major challenge for the U.S. President-elected Joe Biden in terms of handling the U.S.'s relation with China.