In ‘mind-boggling’ remarks, Canada’s ambassador to China John McCallum says Huawei’s Meng Wanzhou has ‘strong case’ against extradition
- Ambassador John McCallum depicted the US case against Meng Wanzhou as seriously flawed and said it would ‘not be a happy outcome’ if she were extradited
- The remarks were decried as inappropriate political meddling in the case against Meng
Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou, who was arrested last month in Canada, has a “strong case” against extradition to the United States, Canada’s ambassador to China said in extraordinary comments broadcast on Wednesday.
Critics said John McCallum’s comments were tantamount to offering legal advice to Meng and undermined the independence of Canada’s judicial process. A former ambassador to China called them “mind-boggling”.
Huawei chief financial officer Meng – also known by the names Sabrina Meng and Cathy Meng – was arrested on December 1 while changing planes in Vancouver at the request of the United States, which says she committed fraud by lying to bankers about allegedly violating American sanctions on Iran.
She has been released on bail, but her arrest has sparked an escalating diplomatic crisis between Ottawa and Beijing.
Could Americans be caught in crossfire of Sabrina Meng’s extradition?
Speaking to Chinese-language media in Markham, Ontario on Tuesday – after briefing lawmakers on the plight of two Canadians detained in China and a third placed on death row in what are widely seen as retaliatory moves by Beijing – Ambassador McCallum depicted the US extradition request as seriously flawed.