Huawei, Meng Wanzhou, “Two Michaels” and the three-year crisis between China, Canada and the United States | Economy

Arrested in 2018 Canada From the CFO Huawei, Meng Wancho, The deportation of the United States and the simultaneous arrest of two Canadians accused of spying in China caused an unprecedented diplomatic and judicial crisis.

On Friday, Meng and two Canadians, who were on an immediate trip to China, were released on their way home from a deal with US justice.

Key dates in this case:

Arrested

In August 2018, a New York court issued an arrest warrant for Huawei’s Number Two Meng, accusing him of lying to HSBC about a telecommunications company’s relationship with Skycom, a subsidiary that sold equipment to Iran, risking violating U.S. sanctions against Tehran. .

Dec.

On December 6, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said there was “no political interference” and that Canada’s judiciary functioned independently under U.S. extradition. Two days later, China threatens Canada with dire consequences.

Two Michaels were arrested in China

On December 10, Beijing accused former diplomat Michael Gowrik, an employee of the think tank’s International Crisis Group, and business adviser Michael Spover of “engaging in acts that threaten China’s national security.”

In January 2019, Trudeau and then-US President Donald Trump condemned the “arbitrary detention” of two Canadians in China.

Later that month, Trudeau fired John McCall, Canada’s then ambassador to China, in an interview with Chinese media, saying Meng had solid grounds for challenging deportation to the United States.

In June 2020, more than 18 months after being arrested for “foreign espionage” and “revealing state secrets,” China formally charged Gowrik and the spy.

In August 2021, Spear was sentenced to 11 years in prison, a verdict “completely unacceptable” to Canadian authorities. No decision has been made in the Govik case.

Agreement

On September 24, Meng reached an agreement with U.S. prosecutors to avoid fraud charges and was released at a Vancouver court hearing. He quickly goes to the Chinese city of Shenzhen.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Meng, who has always denied the allegations against him, admitted to making “false statements” at the time and “hiding the truth” from the HSBC director about Hawaii’s operations in Iran. .

Gowrick and Spear were soon released and returned to Canada, Trudeau announced.

In China, Meng’s confession of these facts about Iran was actually erased from the Internet. Hawaii has vowed to continue defending itself in US courts over allegations that it ignored international sanctions against Iran.