Canada and the United States have a close relationship. Canadians like to support their southern neighbors by buying American products and services. Canada also supports the U.S. when it needs help convincing other allies to stand behind global decisions that may create friction in the world.
Canada’s decision to arrest Huawei Technologies CFO Meng Wanzhou is one of those friction-creating decisions. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police arrested Wanzhou at the Vancouver Airport in December 2018, and she’s still under house arrest.
The Chinese Arrested Two Canadians Living In China After Meng’s Arrest
Meng Wanzhou, the CFO and daughter of Huawei co-founder Ren Zhengfei, claims she didn’t violate the sanctions against Iran. But according to the U.S., Wanzhou was in charge of a subsidiary company that helped a South American company get around the Irian sanctions. The Brazilian company wanted to continue doing business with Iran during the U.S. sanctions.
Canadian businessman Michael Spavor, and former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig, didn’t know all the Wanzhou details when Chinese officials arrested them on December 10, 2018. But the Chinese message in those arrests was to release Meng and let her return to China or suffer the trade consequences. Canada’s and China’s trade relationship is in the toilet, thanks to Canada’s unwillingness to release the Huawei Technologies executive.
A Chinese Official Claimed The Men Were Put On Trial
Hua Chunying, a Foreign Minister for the Chinese government, told the press, both Canadians went through the arrest, indictment, and court process. But Canada’s Global Affairs Department told the press Canadian government officials in China spoke to the Chinese government. And the government confirmed Mr. Hua Chunying made a mistake. The Chinese admitted communication and translation issues caused the foreign minister to skew the facts.
Both Men Face Spying For Canada Charges
Michael Kovrig’s spy charge is for looking for state and intelligence secrets. And Michael Spavor spied for the Canadian government and gave the government Chinese state secrets, according to Mr. Hua.
Both men lived in China before Meng’s arrest, and they had no issues with the Chinese until the spying charges surfaced after the Canadians arrested Wanzhou.
Wanzhou claims she’s innocent. Meng claims the United States forced Canada to arrest her because President Trump wants to use her as a pawn in his trade war with China. Hua Chunying told the press Meng was a political prisoner. Hua also said China wants Canada to release her immediately. But her Canadian trial may not end until April 2021.
Canada’s Foreign Minister Claims Bringing The Men Home Is A Government Priority
Francois-Philippe Champagne, Canadian Foreign Minister, told the press bringing Spavor and Kovrig home is a government priority. But that won’t happen until Wanzhou is on her way back to China, according to Hua.
The irony in the Wanzhou arrest debacle is Trump won’t be in office when her trial ends. And no one knows what Biden plans to do about Huawei or the current tariff war.
