China: Failure to Release Huawei CFO Will Have Severe Consequences for Canada

China has summoned the Canadian ambassador in Beijing to protest what it describes as the "unconscionable detention" of Huawei's CFO. Beijing has warned that if Meng Wanzhou is not released, there will be "severe consequences" for Canada. According to China's state news agency, Xinhua, Le Yucheng, the Deputy Foreign Minister of China, has called in John McCallum, the Canadian ambassador. Meng Wanzhou was detained in Canada on December 1 at the request of the United States. She faces charges of fraud and attempting to evade U.S. sanctions against Iran. However, Geng Shuang, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, stated on Sunday, December 18, that the U.S. and Canada have provided "no evidence" that Ms. Meng violated the laws of either country. This statement comes as the Canadian Foreign Minister said on Friday that the Chinese Foreign Ministry has been informed that everything will proceed according to the law and that Meng Wanzhou has access to consular services. Huawei is one of the largest companies in the world providing network technology to mobile and internet companies. Meng was detained on December 1 and has been in custody since then. Meanwhile, the Vancouver court has announced that U.S. prosecutors are seeking her extradition. According to this court, the charges relate to concealing information regarding the sale of technology equipment to Iran and violating U.S. sanctions. Huawei stated on Thursday that it has complied with all laws and regulations, "including those related to export controls and sanctions from the United Nations, the European Union, and the United States." According to AFP, citing Ms. Meng's lawyer, she is accused of lying to "Hong Kong Bank" about using a hidden subsidiary to trade with Iran in violation of sanctions against the country. This likely refers to the "Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation," internationally known as HSBC. This bank paid nearly two billion dollars in fines six years ago to settle disputes with U.S. federal authorities over money laundering and moving billions of dollars for Iran. Senior HSBC officials have stated that they accepted the charges. Huawei announced on Friday that it will continue with the existing legal process and expressed hope that "the judicial systems of Canada and the U.S. will reach a correct conclusion." Meng Wanzhou is the daughter of Ren Zhengfei, the founder of Huawei. Ren Zhengfei, a former technician in the People's Liberation Army, founded a company in 1987 that sold telephone switch equipment in Hong Kong. Today, this company has become a well-known brand, with revenues exceeding 92 billion dollars last year. Some countries have restricted government dealings with Huawei due to concerns about the intertwined relationships between the company and the political, military, and security mechanisms of the People's Republic of China. Huawei denies these allegations.