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Huawei's Meng Wanzhou not a bargaining chip, says Pompeo | Huawei's Meng Wanzhou not a bargaining chip, says Pompeo |
(about 1 hour later) | |
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has denied that a Huawei executive is being detained in Canada as a bargaining chip in the US-China trade war. | US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has denied that a Huawei executive is being detained in Canada as a bargaining chip in the US-China trade war. |
Meng Wanzhou, 47, was arrested in Canada in December at the request of the US. | Meng Wanzhou, 47, was arrested in Canada in December at the request of the US. |
The US wants her extradited to be tried on charges of fraud linked to alleged violation of sanctions on Iran. | The US wants her extradited to be tried on charges of fraud linked to alleged violation of sanctions on Iran. |
Her lawyers have argued the arrest was politically motivated, quoting US President Donald Trump's own remarks. | Her lawyers have argued the arrest was politically motivated, quoting US President Donald Trump's own remarks. |
The case has soured relations between China, Canada and the US. | The case has soured relations between China, Canada and the US. |
Mr Pompeo was asked on Thursday at a news conference in Ottawa whether he saw Ms Meng's detention as something that could be used by the US to its advantage in trade talks. | Mr Pompeo was asked on Thursday at a news conference in Ottawa whether he saw Ms Meng's detention as something that could be used by the US to its advantage in trade talks. |
"No," said America's top diplomat, who was in the Canadian capital to meet Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland. | "No," said America's top diplomat, who was in the Canadian capital to meet Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland. |
President Trump has previously suggested he might intervene in the executive's case if it would help secure a trade deal with China. | President Trump has previously suggested he might intervene in the executive's case if it would help secure a trade deal with China. |
"Whatever's good for this country, I would do," he said last December. | "Whatever's good for this country, I would do," he said last December. |
Mr Trump recently threatened to impose further tariffs on $300bn (£245bn) of Chinese imports from next month, on top of the $250bn of Chinese goods already being taxed at 25% by the US. | Mr Trump recently threatened to impose further tariffs on $300bn (£245bn) of Chinese imports from next month, on top of the $250bn of Chinese goods already being taxed at 25% by the US. |
Beijing has hit back by imposing duties on US products including chemicals, coal and medical equipment. | Beijing has hit back by imposing duties on US products including chemicals, coal and medical equipment. |
China's embassy in Canada said on Thursday that bilateral ties between the two countries were suffering and called for the release of the Huawei executive. | |
"China-Canada relations now suffer gross difficulties and the Canadian side knows very well the root cause," the embassy said in an email to Reuters. | |
Ms Meng is currently living under house arrest in Vancouver, Canada, and is waging a legal battle against extradition to the US. | Ms Meng is currently living under house arrest in Vancouver, Canada, and is waging a legal battle against extradition to the US. |
Canada has halted travel to China for its locally-engaged consulate employees in Hong Kong, according to reports. | |
A local UK consulate worker was detained in China during a business trip this month. | |
On Thursday, the US secretary of state also offered assurances of the Trump administration's support for two Canadians detained in China. | On Thursday, the US secretary of state also offered assurances of the Trump administration's support for two Canadians detained in China. |
Canada has been seeking the backing of its global allies over the cases of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, who are facing espionage charges. | Canada has been seeking the backing of its global allies over the cases of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, who are facing espionage charges. |
The two men were taken into custody in China shortly after Canada arrested Ms Meng on behalf of the US. The duo have been accused of harming national security. | The two men were taken into custody in China shortly after Canada arrested Ms Meng on behalf of the US. The duo have been accused of harming national security. |
Their arrests have widely been viewed as tit for tat to pressure Canada to release Ms Meng. | Their arrests have widely been viewed as tit for tat to pressure Canada to release Ms Meng. |
Mr Pompeo said the US would continue to raise the matter of the two Canadians' "unlawful detention" with China "until such time as they're home and returned to their families". | Mr Pompeo said the US would continue to raise the matter of the two Canadians' "unlawful detention" with China "until such time as they're home and returned to their families". |
He also rejected any comparison of Ms Meng's case to Mr Spavor and Mr Kovrig's. | He also rejected any comparison of Ms Meng's case to Mr Spavor and Mr Kovrig's. |
China, he told a journalist, wants "to talk about these two as if they're equivalent, as if they're morally similar, which they fundamentally are not". | China, he told a journalist, wants "to talk about these two as if they're equivalent, as if they're morally similar, which they fundamentally are not". |