Lawyers for a senior executive at Chinese tech giant <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/huawei-ceo-says-underestimated-impact-of-us-ban-sees-revenue-dip-227902">Huawei</a> asked Canada's justice minister on Monday to quash extradition proceedings against Meng Wanzhou and for her to be released.

The court proceedings are scheduled to start on January 20. Meng is currently out on bail.

The United States wants to put Meng on trial for fraud for allegedly violating Iran sanctions and lying about it to US banks -- accusations that her lawyers dispute.

A copy of the letter to Justice Minister David Lametti was not made public.

But in a press release announcing the letter Meng's lawyers urged Lametti to "withdraw the proceedings because the extradition proceedings are without merit and cessation of the proceedings would be in the best interests of Canada's national interests."

They argue that the case is "palpably" political and "simply extraordinary" from legal, jurisdictional and foreign policy perspectives.

"In our view, Canada is at cross-roads respecting the United States' request that Canada extradite Ms&nbsp;Meng, for conduct that could not be an offence in Canada and which is at odds with Canadian values and established foreign policy regarding Iran," they said.

Under Canadian law, the justice minister can intervene in extradition cases.

Canada's relations with China have soured over Meng's arrest on a US warrant in December 2018 during a flight stopover in Vancouver.

In a move widely seen as retaliation and described by some observers as "hostage diplomacy," Beijing detained two Canadians -- former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor -- and blocked Canadian agricultural shipments worth billions of dollars.

It later accused Kovrig of espionage and alleged that Spavor provided him with intelligence.

Former Canadian prime minister Jean Chretien recently urged Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to reject the US extradition request and cancel the case.

Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland disagreed.

"It would set a very dangerous precedent for Canada to alter its behavior when it comes to honoring an extradition treaty in response to external pressure," she said.

Lametti's office said it would be "inappropriate" to comment while Meng's case is before the courts.

Lawyers for a senior executive at Chinese tech giant Huawei asked Canada's justice minister on Monday to quash extradition proceedings against Meng Wanzhou and for her to be released.

Lawyers for a senior executive at Chinese tech giant Huawei asked Canada's justice minister on Monday to quash extradition proceedings against Meng Wanzhou and for her to be released. The court proceedings are scheduled to start on January 20. Meng is currently out on bail. The United States wants to put Meng on trial for fraud for allegedly violating Iran sanctions and lying about it to US banks -- accusations that her lawyers dispute. A copy of the letter to Justice Minister David Lametti was not made public. But in a press release announcing the letter Meng's lawyers urged Lametti to "withdraw the proceedings because the extradition proceedings are without merit and cessation of the proceedings would be in the best interests of Canada's national interests." They argue that the case is "palpably" political and "simply extraordinary" from legal, jurisdictional and foreign policy perspectives. "In our view, Canada is at cross-roads respecting the United States' request that Canada extradite Ms Meng, for conduct that could not be an offence in Canada and which is at odds with Canadian values and established foreign policy regarding Iran," they said. Under Canadian law, the justice minister can intervene in extradition cases. Canada's relations with China have soured over Meng's arrest on a US warrant in December 2018 during a flight stopover in Vancouver. In a move widely seen as retaliation and described by some observers as "hostage diplomacy," Beijing detained two Canadians -- former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor -- and blocked Canadian agricultural shipments worth billions of dollars. It later accused Kovrig of espionage and alleged that Spavor provided him with intelligence. Former Canadian prime minister Jean Chretien recently urged Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to reject the US extradition request and cancel the case. Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland disagreed. "It would set a very dangerous precedent for Canada to alter its behavior when it comes to honoring an extradition treaty in response to external pressure," she said. Lametti's office said it would be "inappropriate" to comment while Meng's case is before the courts.

Huawei executive asks Canada to quash US extradition request

The Canadian government, as expected, on Friday approved extradition proceedings against the chief financial officer of Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, prompting a furious reaction from China.

Meng Wanzhou, the daughter of Huawei's founder, was detained in Vancouver last December and is under house arrest. In late January the US Justice Department charged Meng and Huawei with conspiring to violate US sanctions on Iran.

Meng is due to appear in a Vancouver court at 10 am Pacific time (1800 GMT) on March 6, when a date will be set for her extradition hearing.

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/huawei-row-china-questions-state-of-judicial-independence-in-canada-200522">Huawei invites US media to see for itself on spy claims</a>

"Today, Department of Justice Canada officials issued an authority to proceed, formally commencing an extradition process in the case of Ms&nbsp;Meng Wanzhou," the government said in a statement.

China, whose relations with Canada have deteriorated badly over the affair, denounced the decision and repeated previous demands for Meng's release.

US Justice Department spokeswoman Nicole Navas Oxman said Washington thanked the Canadian government for its assistance. "We greatly appreciate Canada's steadfast commitment to the rule of law," she said in a statement.

Legal experts had predicted the Liberal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau would give the go-ahead for extradition proceedings, given the close judicial relationship between Canada and the United States.

But it could be years before Meng is sent to the United States since Canada's slow-moving justice system allows many decisions to be appealed.

A final decision will likely come down to the federal justice minister, who will face the choice of angering the United States by rejecting the extradition bid, or China by accepting it.

Professor Wesley Wark of the University of Ottawa's Graduate School of Public and International Affairs said, "the Canadians will take a beating throughout this whole process" from China.

"I suspect the Trudeau government is desperately hoping that the Americans reach a deal with the Chinese," he said by phone.

US President Donald Trump told Reuters in December he would intervene if it served national security interests or helped close a trade deal with China, prompting Ottawa to stress the extradition process should not be politicized. Last week Trump played down the idea of dropping the charges.

After Meng's detention, China arrested two Canadians on national security grounds, and a Chinese court later sentenced to death a Canadian man who previously had only been jailed for drug smuggling.

Brock University professor Charles Burton, a former Canadian diplomat who served two postings in China, said Beijing was likely to retaliate further.

"They're not going to take this lying down ... one shudders to think what the consequences could be," he told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp, saying Beijing might crack down on Canadian canola shipments or stop Chinese students from going to Canada.

Ottawa rejects Chinese calls to release Meng, saying it cannot interfere with the judiciary.

"The Chinese side is utterly dissatisfied with and firmly opposes the issuance of (the) authority to proceed," the embassy in Ottawa said in a statement.

Beijing had earlier questioned the state of judicial independence in Canada, noting the government faces accusations that it tried to intervene to stop a corruption trial.

Canadian Justice Minister David Lametti declined to comment.

Huawei was not immediately available for comment.

Meng's lawyers said they were disappointed and described the US charges as politically motivated.

The Canadian government, as expected, on Friday approved extradition proceedings against the chief financial officer of Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, prompting a furious reaction from China.

The Canadian government, as expected, on Friday approved extradition proceedings against the chief financial officer of Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, prompting a furious reaction from China. Meng Wanzhou, the daughter of Huawei's founder, was detained in Vancouver last December and is under house arrest. In late January the US Justice Department charged Meng and Huawei with conspiring to violate US sanctions on Iran. Meng is due to appear in a Vancouver court at 10 am Pacific time (1800 GMT) on March 6, when a date will be set for her extradition hearing. Also read: Huawei invites US media to see for itself on spy claims "Today, Department of Justice Canada officials issued an authority to proceed, formally commencing an extradition process in the case of Ms Meng Wanzhou," the government said in a statement. China, whose relations with Canada have deteriorated badly over the affair, denounced the decision and repeated previous demands for Meng's release. US Justice Department spokeswoman Nicole Navas Oxman said Washington thanked the Canadian government for its assistance. "We greatly appreciate Canada's steadfast commitment to the rule of law," she said in a statement. Legal experts had predicted the Liberal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau would give the go-ahead for extradition proceedings, given the close judicial relationship between Canada and the United States. But it could be years before Meng is sent to the United States since Canada's slow-moving justice system allows many decisions to be appealed. A final decision will likely come down to the federal justice minister, who will face the choice of angering the United States by rejecting the extradition bid, or China by accepting it. Professor Wesley Wark of the University of Ottawa's Graduate School of Public and International Affairs said, "the Canadians will take a beating throughout this whole process" from China. "I suspect the Trudeau government is desperately hoping that the Americans reach a deal with the Chinese," he said by phone. US President Donald Trump told Reuters in December he would intervene if it served national security interests or helped close a trade deal with China, prompting Ottawa to stress the extradition process should not be politicized. Last week Trump played down the idea of dropping the charges. After Meng's detention, China arrested two Canadians on national security grounds, and a Chinese court later sentenced to death a Canadian man who previously had only been jailed for drug smuggling. Brock University professor Charles Burton, a former Canadian diplomat who served two postings in China, said Beijing was likely to retaliate further. "They're not going to take this lying down ... one shudders to think what the consequences could be," he told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp, saying Beijing might crack down on Canadian canola shipments or stop Chinese students from going to Canada. Ottawa rejects Chinese calls to release Meng, saying it cannot interfere with the judiciary. "The Chinese side is utterly dissatisfied with and firmly opposes the issuance of (the) authority to proceed," the embassy in Ottawa said in a statement. Beijing had earlier questioned the state of judicial independence in Canada, noting the government faces accusations that it tried to intervene to stop a corruption trial. Canadian Justice Minister David Lametti declined to comment. Huawei was not immediately available for comment. Meng's lawyers said they were disappointed and described the US charges as politically motivated.

Canada approves extradition process of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou

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Huawei executive asks Canada to quash US extradition request

Canada approves extradition process of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou