CHINA on Thursday demanded from Canada and the United States the immediate release of Huawei chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, and a clarification of the reasons for her detention, Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a daily news conference in Beijing.
The Chinese Embassy in Ottawa, Canada, on Wednesday voiced its “firm opposition” to the reported arrest of Meng.
The Canadian police, at the request of the United States, arrested a Chinese citizen who did not violate any U.S. or Canadian laws, the embassy said in a statement posted on its official website.
“The Chinese side expressed firm opposition and strong protest against such gross violations of human rights,” it said. “The Chinese side has made solemn representations to the United States and Canada, demanding that they immediately correct the wrongdoing and restore the personal freedom of Ms. Meng Wanzhou.”
The embassy said it will pay close attention to the development of the case and take every action to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens, according to the statement.
Huawei said Thursday it complies with all applicable laws and regulations where it operates, including applicable export control and sanction laws and regulations of the U.N., United States and EU.
“The company has been provided very little information regarding the charges and is not aware of any wrongdoing by Ms. Meng,” Huawei said in a statement. “The company believes the Canadian and U.S. legal systems will ultimately reach a just conclusion.”
Meng was provisionally detained by the Canadian authorities on behalf of the United States, when she was transferring flights in Canada, according to the statement.
Canadian authorities said Wednesday that they have arrested Meng for possible extradition to the United States, The Associated Press reported. It cited Canada’s Justice Department spokesman Ian McLeod as saying Meng was detained in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Saturday.
(SD-Xinhua) |