A change in the situation which could increase diplomatic tensions between Beijing and Washington, since in 2018, Meng Wanzhou was arrested in Canada at the request of the United States, on suspicion of bank fraud. The arrest made the headlines of the press at the time.
51-year-old Meng Wanzhou is Huawei’s chief financial officer. In 2018, the daughter of the Huawei billionaire was arrested in Vancouver at the request of the United States, which suspected her of having lied to gain access to the Iranian market by circumventing American sanctions. In particular, she would have misled the HSBC bank on this subject. The Chinese citizen spent three years under house arrest in Vancouver while she legally challenged her extradition to the United States. She eventually reached an agreement with the US Department of Justice, following which she was able to return to China. In the wake of Meng Wanzhou’s return, the Chinese regime released two Canadians, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, arrested in China in December 2018.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the appointment of Meng Wanzhou as president sets in motion the process of succession for her 78-year-old father.
At the end of January, several American media reported that the United States was considering completely cutting off Huawei’s access to American suppliers, due to the technology group’s close ties with the Chinese government. According to the United States, Huawei could serve as a cover for Chinese espionage. The Chinese equipment manufacturer has firmly denied all accusations of espionage.
