Thu December, 2020, Age: 3 years
WSJ has reported that the U.S. Justice Department is reportedly discussing a deal with Huawei finance chief Meng Wanzhou that would allow her to return home to China in exchange for admitting wrongdoing in a criminal case that has strained Beijing’s relations with the U.S. and Canada. Meng has been under house arrest in Vancouver since 2018 in connection with charges of alleged violations of U.S. sanctions on Huawei’s behalf. An agreement wouldn’t only allow her to return to China, it would also remove an issue that has caused Beijing’s relations with Ottawa to plummet and has added to a downward spiral in ties with Washington. A deal could also pave the way for China to return Michael Korvig and Michael Spavor, two Canadian men who were detained there soon after Ms. Meng’s arrest, a factor that is in part motivating the discussions. Chinese authorities recently prosecuted and tried the two Canadians on suspicions of national security violations. Canada has consistently maintained that their detention is a case of “hostage diplomacy” seeking to pressure a resolution to Meng’s case.
