Huawei CFO returns to China after detention in Canada
After spending nearly three years in detention in Canada, Huawei’s chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou arrived back in her homeland on Saturday.
CAPE TOWN, September 27 (ANA) – After spending nearly three years in detention in Canada, Huawei’s chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou arrived back in her homeland on Saturday.
Her return could be seen as relieving tensions between the US and China and a step towards the two superpowers working together.
Why was Meng arrested?
Meng, the daughter of Ren Zhengfei, the founder of Huawei, was arrested at Vancouver International Airport in December 2018.
According to the BBC, Meng was accused by the US of bank fraud for allegedly misleading financial services company HSBC of processing transactions for Huawei.
State media China Global Television Network (CGTN) reported that the Chinese foreign ministry said the charges against Meng had been fabricated “with the aim of suppressing China’s high-tech enterprises”.
Meng’s release came after she admitted to misleading HSBC about Huawei’s relationship with Skycom – a Hong-Kong based company operating in Iran – which had broken US sanctions against Iran.
Meng’s arrival in China
Meng arrived in Shenzhen, where Huawei is based, on a jet provided by Air China and was welcomed by flag-waving airline employees.
After her arrival, which was screened live on state television, she thanked China’s leader, Xi Jinping, for his support while she was under house arrest in Vancouver.
“Over the past three years, my life has been turned upside down,” Meng said during a press briefing.
“It was a disruptive time for me as a mother, wife and a company executive,” she said.
Meng added that the experience had been invaluable and further thanked all those who supported her. She also thanked the Chinese embassy in Canada for their work.
Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau welcomed back two Canadians, Michael Kovrig, a former diplomat, and businessman Michael Spavor, who had been detained in China on charges of espionage.
– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Yaron Blecher
