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Fighting Extradition, Huawei Executive Writes of ‘Moments of Fear’ Fighting Extradition, Huawei Executive Writes of ‘Moments of Fear’
(about 7 hours later)
On the first anniversary of her arrest, the Huawei technology executive Meng Wanzhou has written a reflective, sometimes plaintive letter describing her year in detention in Vancouver as having “moments of fear, pain, disappointment, helplessness, torment, and struggle” but also acceptance and more time for herself.On the first anniversary of her arrest, the Huawei technology executive Meng Wanzhou has written a reflective, sometimes plaintive letter describing her year in detention in Vancouver as having “moments of fear, pain, disappointment, helplessness, torment, and struggle” but also acceptance and more time for herself.
Ms. Meng, 47, a former secretary at Huawei who rose to become its chief financial officer and public face of the company, was arrested in Vancouver last December after the United States had requested her extradition on fraud charges.Ms. Meng, 47, a former secretary at Huawei who rose to become its chief financial officer and public face of the company, was arrested in Vancouver last December after the United States had requested her extradition on fraud charges.
She has been freed on bail but is not permitted to leave Vancouver. She is accused, among other things, of deceiving four banks to enable Huawei to evade American sanctions against Iran.She has been freed on bail but is not permitted to leave Vancouver. She is accused, among other things, of deceiving four banks to enable Huawei to evade American sanctions against Iran.
“Over the past year, I have also learned to face up to and accept my situation,” she wrote in the letter, which was published on Huawei’s website on Sunday. “I’m no longer afraid of the unknown.”“Over the past year, I have also learned to face up to and accept my situation,” she wrote in the letter, which was published on Huawei’s website on Sunday. “I’m no longer afraid of the unknown.”
Her arrest, she wrote, had radically changed her daily life, allowing more time for hobbies like reading and painting.Her arrest, she wrote, had radically changed her daily life, allowing more time for hobbies like reading and painting.
“When I was in Shenzhen, time used to pass by very quickly,” she wrote, referring to Huawei’s headquarters city in southern China. “Every day, my schedule was fully packed and I was constantly rushing from place to place, and from meeting to meeting.”“When I was in Shenzhen, time used to pass by very quickly,” she wrote, referring to Huawei’s headquarters city in southern China. “Every day, my schedule was fully packed and I was constantly rushing from place to place, and from meeting to meeting.”
She continued: “Right now, time seems to pass slowly. It is so slow that I have enough time to read a book from cover to cover. I can take the time to discuss minutiae with my colleagues or to carefully complete an oil painting.”She continued: “Right now, time seems to pass slowly. It is so slow that I have enough time to read a book from cover to cover. I can take the time to discuss minutiae with my colleagues or to carefully complete an oil painting.”
The arrest in December of last year thrust Canada into the center of a diplomatic struggle between China and the United States. China has detained — in retaliation, some say — two Canadians and accused them of espionage. It has also sentenced two other Canadians to death on drug-related accusations.The arrest in December of last year thrust Canada into the center of a diplomatic struggle between China and the United States. China has detained — in retaliation, some say — two Canadians and accused them of espionage. It has also sentenced two other Canadians to death on drug-related accusations.
China cut off trade of Canadian canola oil and, for a time, halted beef and pork imports although those restrictions were lifted in November.China cut off trade of Canadian canola oil and, for a time, halted beef and pork imports although those restrictions were lifted in November.
The extradition hearing is scheduled to begin in January after months of hearings in which the prosecution and defense have wrangled over the circumstances of her arrest and the validity of the charges.The extradition hearing is scheduled to begin in January after months of hearings in which the prosecution and defense have wrangled over the circumstances of her arrest and the validity of the charges.
Ms. Meng has cut a glamorous figure in court, variously wearing casual outfits or colorful designer dresses. On the day of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China in September, she wore a bright red dress, adorned with an enamel Chinese flag pin. Her penchant for designer stiletto heals, sometimes with glitter on them, draws attention to the GPS-tracker on her left ankle that she has been ordered by the judge to wear to make sure she does not flee the country. Ms. Meng has cut a glamorous figure in court, variously wearing casual outfits or colorful designer dresses. On the day of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China in September, she wore a bright red dress, adorned with an enamel Chinese flag pin. Her penchant for designer stiletto heels, sometimes with glitter on them, draws attention to the GPS-tracker on her left ankle that she has been ordered by the judge to wear to make sure she does not flee the country.
Yet the contrast between her gilded detention in Vancouver compared with the fate of the imprisoned Canadians in China has raised hackles in Canada.Yet the contrast between her gilded detention in Vancouver compared with the fate of the imprisoned Canadians in China has raised hackles in Canada.
While the Canadians are held in isolation in undisclosed locations, denied access to lawyers, and prevented from going outside or seeing sunlight, Ms. Meng has been out on bail of 10 million Canadian dollars — about $7.5 million — and living in a gated, seven-bedroom mansion in the city’s exclusive Shaughnessy neighborhood.While the Canadians are held in isolation in undisclosed locations, denied access to lawyers, and prevented from going outside or seeing sunlight, Ms. Meng has been out on bail of 10 million Canadian dollars — about $7.5 million — and living in a gated, seven-bedroom mansion in the city’s exclusive Shaughnessy neighborhood.
The mansion, which Ms. Meng owns, has been estimated to be worth as much as 16 million Canadian dollars.The mansion, which Ms. Meng owns, has been estimated to be worth as much as 16 million Canadian dollars.
Ms. Meng is also able to travel relatively freely around the city.Ms. Meng is also able to travel relatively freely around the city.
In the letter, Ms. Meng thanked supporters and Huawei’s customers for standing by her.In the letter, Ms. Meng thanked supporters and Huawei’s customers for standing by her.
“In Chinese, the character for ‘light’ is composed of two parts: one that means fire, representing hope, and one that means people,” she wrote. “My dear friends, your warmth is a beacon that lights my way forward, and I appreciate it more than words can say.”“In Chinese, the character for ‘light’ is composed of two parts: one that means fire, representing hope, and one that means people,” she wrote. “My dear friends, your warmth is a beacon that lights my way forward, and I appreciate it more than words can say.”
She also paid tribute to Canadians and saluted the kindness of the security officers, both at the correctional facility where she was initially held and during her confinement under her bail terms.She also paid tribute to Canadians and saluted the kindness of the security officers, both at the correctional facility where she was initially held and during her confinement under her bail terms.
Ms. Meng’s lawyers have argued that her actions do not constitute a crime in Canada, a prerequisite for the case to succeed. Her defense also says Ms. Meng is the victim of an elaborate conspiracy by Canadian border agents and the F.B.I. to arrest her in what they have characterized as a politically motivated case pressed by President Trump to get a better trade deal with China.Ms. Meng’s lawyers have argued that her actions do not constitute a crime in Canada, a prerequisite for the case to succeed. Her defense also says Ms. Meng is the victim of an elaborate conspiracy by Canadian border agents and the F.B.I. to arrest her in what they have characterized as a politically motivated case pressed by President Trump to get a better trade deal with China.
The defense has also filed a civil case against the Canadian authorities, arguing that her rights were breached when she was initially detained in Vancouver.The defense has also filed a civil case against the Canadian authorities, arguing that her rights were breached when she was initially detained in Vancouver.
Canada has a record of granting about 90 percent of extradition requests, and legal experts say Ms. Meng is likely to be extradited, though it could take months — or even years — for the courts to reach a final decision.Canada has a record of granting about 90 percent of extradition requests, and legal experts say Ms. Meng is likely to be extradited, though it could take months — or even years — for the courts to reach a final decision.
Tracy Sherlock contributed reporting from Vancouver, British Columbia.Tracy Sherlock contributed reporting from Vancouver, British Columbia.