Huawei CFO’s release from Canadian jail takes heat off

The release of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou from a Vancouver jail takes pressure off China’s relation­s with the US and Canada.

Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou has been released on bail from a Vancouver jail.

The release of Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou from a Vancouver jail takes some immedi­ate pressure off China’s relation­s with the US and Canada, which have deteriorated sharply since her arrest almost two weeks ago.

The judge, releasing Ms Meng on $C10 million ($10.4m) bail, describe­d some allegations against her as “entirely speculative”.

But her surprise detention on December 1, as she transited through Vancouver airport on a trip from Hong Kong to Mexico, has raised new issues, with US President Donald Trump declaring he was prepared to intervene in the case if he thought it was “good for the country” and could help secur­e a trade deal with China.

Ms Meng is due for another court hearing on February 6, to hear an application for her extradition to the US on charges of helping to avoid US sanctions against Iran.

Separate news that Chinese ­officials arrested visiting Canadian former diplomat Michael Kovrig on a visit to Beijing this week has raised speculation that his ­detention could have been done in retaliation for Ms Meng’s arrest, which has angered China and led to threats that Canada would suffe­r unless she was released.

China’s Deputy Foreign Minister Le Yucheng described the arres­t of the 46-year-old Ms Meng, the daughter of Huawei’s founder Ren Zhengfei, as unlawful, “unconscionable and vile”, and a “severe violation of her rights”.

Ms Meng’s release after a three-day bail hearing was greeted with applause in the packed courtroom, with her husband Liu Xiaozon­g pumping his fist in victor­y while she wiped away tears on hearing the news, as supporters outside the courtroom were protest­ing in favour of her release. Ms Meng will live in Van­couver, where she owns two houses, wearing an ankle bracelet to monitor her movements with her activities supervised by a private security agency she is paying for.

British Columbia Supreme Court judge William Ehrcke commend­ed all parties yesterday on their conduct, in what he describe­d as a “most unusual case”, which he said displayed Canada’s “independent judiciary” at its best.

He was critical of US assertions in court that Ms Meng had deliberately avoided travel to the US because she was aware of a grand jury investigation into Huawei, which he said were “entirely speculative” and “without reliable foundation”.

The US has until January 8 to file a formal extradition request with Canada.

A mother of four and a former resident of Canada, Ms Meng will be able to travel within a limited area of her Vancouver home and be subject to an overnight curfew.

In Beijing there has been no news on the fate of Mr Kovrig, who was detained during a visit to China on Monday night.

Some sources reported yesterday that the former diplomat, who has been working for Belgium-based non-profit organisation the International Crisis Group, was still on unpaid leave of absence from the Canadian government and still retains his diplomatic status­.

The organisation said in a statement that it was “doing everything possible to secure additional information on Michael’s whereabouts, as well as his prompt and safe release”.

“Michael was detained on Monday night in Beijing by the Beijing Bureau of Chinese State Security,” the group said. “We continue to seek information on ­Michael’s case and well-being.”

Ms Meng’s release in Vancouver will provide some breathing space for the US and China to begin their trade talks following the agreement reached over dinne­r between the US President and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Argentina on ­December 1. Both nations are keen to get on with the trade talks for a possible deal by March 1.

China reportedly agreed yesterday to cut tariffs on US car import­s from 40 per cent to 15 per cent, and buy more US goods, particula­rly soy beans.