Reuters just quoted the Wall Street Journal as saying that people familiar with the matter revealed that the US Department of Justice is discussing an agreement with Huawei’s Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou, who was detained by Canadian police “in response to an arrest warrant issued by the United States.” She will be allowed to return to China from Canada in exchange for confessing part of the charge.
The Wall Street Journal stated that under this agreement, Meng Wanzhou was required to plead guilty to part of the charge. But if she cooperates, the prosecutor may agree to postpone and drop some charges.
It’s said that Meng Wanzhou’s lawyers have discussed the possibility of reaching a “delayed prosecution agreement” with officials of the US Department of Justice in recent weeks. But so far, Meng Wanzhou has resisted the proposed agreement, believing that she has done nothing wrong. She also declined to comment through a Huawei spokesperson.
The Wall Street Journal also said that a spokesperson for the US Department of Justice declined to comment, and Canadian officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
On December 1, 2018, Meng Wanzhou was detained by the Canadian police “in response to an arrest warrant issued by the United States” at Vancouver International Airport. The United States requested Canada to extradite Meng Wanzhou and her active struggle has been initiated since then. What followed was serious difficulties in China-Canada relations. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said on the 1st of this month that facts have fully proved that the Meng Wanzhou incident was a serious political incident. The US government concocted this incident for no legal reasons. Its real purpose was to suppress Chinese high-tech enterprises and obstruct the development of China’s science and technology. The Canadian government acted as an accomplice of the US and shouldered an inescapable responsibility. “Meng Wanzhou has not violated any Canadian law, but has been unreasonably detained so far. We express our indignation and strongly condemn it again.” The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation published a special article on the second anniversary of the Meng Wanzhou incident on the 1st, citing several Canadians. According to the words of former senior officials and legal experts, the factual basis of the Meng Wanzhou case is weak, and the Canadian Attorney General should actively intervene to end this case.
According to the website of the Chinese Embassy in Canada, on November 30, Ambassador Cong Peiwu and Meng Wanzhou had a phone call to express their cordial condolences. Ambassador Cong emphasized that the Chinese government is unwavering in its determination to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens and enterprises, and will continue to urge Canada to take seriously China’s solemn position and concerns, correct wrong practices, make the right decision to release you as soon as possible, and ensure you to return to China safely.
Huawei Canada issued a statement on November 30, stating that in the past two years, Huawei has full confidence in Meng Wanzhou’s innocence and believes that the Canadian judicial system will come to this conclusion. Huawei will continue to support Meng Wanzhou’s pursuit of justice and freedom.
