US under Biden could reboot Canada-China ties by dropping Meng Wanzhou extradition, Canadian ex-officials say

Former foreign minister tells webinar Huawei could be charged in the case instead of the executive, with release of two Canadians held in China sought

Ex-ambassador to Beijing calls for ‘elegant solution’ but also says Ottawa should take a firmer stand over issues like Hong Kong and Xinjiang

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Meng Wanzhou leaves her Vancouver home for a court appearance in October. Her case has strained relations between the US, China and Canada. Photo: AFP

Published: 7:02pm, 7 Dec 2020Updated: 5:53am, 25 Dec 2021

A new US administration has a chance to recalibrate Canada-China relations by resolving the case of a Huawei executive that has strained ties between the three nations, former Canadian officials said.

Speaking at a webinar on Canada’s China policy on Monday, they voiced hope that Joe Biden’s administration could drop the US extradition request for Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of Chinese firm Huawei Technologies, in exchange for Beijing releasing two detained Canadians.

But they also said Canada should take a firmer stand on China.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that US prosecutors had discussed a deal with Meng’s lawyers that could allow her to return to China. Meng was arrested two years ago in Canada on a US warrant, accused of bank fraud related to violations of US sanctions against Iran.

“I hope that we can call upon Joe Biden to assist Canada. Could they drop the extradition request for Madam Meng? Rather than charge her personally, [the US could] charge Huawei criminally, that is normally what the practice has been in these types of sanction cases,” said John Baird, who was Canada’s foreign minister from 2011 to 2015.

“If they were to do that, this could obviously have a chance to reset relations, seek the release of the two Michaels and try to deal to reboot the relationship which can be on a much more professional footing,” he said.