Huawei CFO denied right to immediate release in extradition fight with US

Huawei finance director Meng Wanzhou lost a major battle in her fight against extradition to the US with Canadian authorities refusing to immediately release her and ensure her return to China.

In the Wednesday ruling, the Supreme Court of British Columbia found that the case against Meng meets a standard called “double criminality,” where the acts the US has accused her of are also illegal in Canada. The next phase of proceedings will begin next month.

Meng will however remain on bail in Vancouver during the extradition process. She is due back in Vancouver court in June.

Washington is fending off attempts by the Chinese Foreign Ministry to have her remain under Canadian custody and instead pushing for her to be extradited to the US to stand trial on charges of fraud.

Shortly after the court’s decision, the Chinese Foreign Ministry urged Canada to release Meng immediately and to ensure her return to China.

The Chinese Global Times blamed the US for the ruling, claiming that Canada’s judicial and diplomatic independence was being “bullied” by the US.

Huawei remained one of the main points in the ongoing trade war between the US and China, althoughPresident Trump said in December 2018 that he might consider intervening if the case would help the US-China tensions.