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Huawei's Meng Wanzhou 'to be freed' in US deal Huawei's Meng Wanzhou 'to be freed' in US deal
(30 minutes later)
A senior executive of Chinese technology giant Huawei is due to appear virtually in a US court after a deal to resolve fraud charges, according to media reports. A deal has been reached to free a senior executive of Chinese technology giant Huawei being held in Canada on US fraud charges, according to media reports.
Meng Wanzhou was detained nearly three years ago in Canada at the request of US authorities, sparking an international row. Meng Wanzhou was detained nearly three years ago in Vancouver at the request of US authorities, sparking an international row.
Ms Meng says she is innocent and has been fighting extradition to the US. She is expected to make a virtual appearance in a US court shortly.
The incident has strained China's relations with the US and Canada.The incident has strained China's relations with the US and Canada.
If the charges against Meng Wanzhou are dropped her extradition case in Canada will be thrown out and she could be free as early as Friday. If the charges against her are dropped, her extradition case in Canada will be thrown out and she could be free as early as Friday.
The US alleges Ms Meng misled the bank HSBC over the true nature of Huawei's relationship with a company called Skycom, putting the bank at risk of violating US sanctions against Iran.The US alleges Ms Meng misled the bank HSBC over the true nature of Huawei's relationship with a company called Skycom, putting the bank at risk of violating US sanctions against Iran.
Her case has been the subject of intense negotiations between US and Chinese diplomats.
The PowerPoint that sparked an international rowThe PowerPoint that sparked an international row
Meng Wanzhou: Trapped in a gilded cageMeng Wanzhou: Trapped in a gilded cage
The life of Huawei's high-flying heiressThe life of Huawei's high-flying heiress
Ms Meng, also known as Sabrina Meng and Cathy Meng, is the elder daughter of Huawei's founder, billionaire Ren Zhengfei. Ms Meng joined the company in 1999 and became its chief finance officer (CFO) in 2011.
After joining Huawei's finance department in 1999, she became its chief finance officer (CFO) in 2011. She was promoted to vice-chair in 2018, a few months before her arrest. She is the elder daughter of billionaire Ren Zhengfei, who set up Huawei in 1987, building it up to become one of the biggest technology firms in the world.
Ms Meng was taken into custody in Vancouver while she was changing planes in December 2018. He served in the Chinese army for nine years, until 1983, and is also a member of the Chinese Communist Party.
She was released on bail but under strict conditions, including a curfew and an electronic tag. She has been living in one of two properties she owns in Vancouver Huawei has faced accusations that the Chinese authorities could use its equipment for espionage - allegations it denies.
Ms Meng, who has four children, was a resident of Vancouver until 2009, when she returned to China. In 2019, the US imposed sanctions on Huawei and placed it on an export blacklist, cutting it off from key technologies.
The UK, Sweden, Australia, Japan have also banned Huawei, while other countries including France and India have adopted measures stopping short of an outright ban.
A few days after Ms Meng was arrested, China detained two Canadian citizens, Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, on suspicion of spying.
Critics have accused China of treating them as political bargaining chips, held as part of what is known as "hostage diplomacy". China denies this.
For months there have been extensive behind-the-scenes contacts, with senior Huawei executives sent to Washington by the company to try to resolve a case which has fuelled international tension.
For Huawei's boss, the issue has been deeply personal, with his daughter being held, but for the whole of China it has also turned into a major cause of anger. It has also poisoned relations between China and Canada, with the latter believing two of its citizens, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, have been held as pawns in the negotiations.
A deal has the ability to reduce some of the tensions that have emerged. But there will still be questions - what does the US gain out of it? And what kind of link might there be between events in North America and the status of the two Michaels in China?
Last month, a Chinese court convicted Michael Spavor, a businessman, of espionage and sentenced him to 11 years in prison.
Canada condemned the sentence, saying his trial did not satisfy even the minimum standards required by international law.