Huawei’s Meng Wanzhou is released back to China

In 2018, Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou was arrested in Canada on behalf of the U.S. on fraud charges and for violating U.S. trade sanctions against Iran. In 2021, the Biden administration released Meng back to China.

Why it matters:

• Meng’s arrest was part of the U.S.-China conflict and targeted China’s tech giant Huawei, which the U.S. government sanctioned in 2019 over espionage and ties to China’s CCP and PLA, having determined that the company’s 5G wireless equipment poses a security risk.
• The release signaled Biden’s intentions to ease tensions with the CCP and allow Huawei back into the American market.

Links:

• CNBC: Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou to be released after agreement with U.S. in wire fraud case
• Reuters: Huawei CFO leaves Canada after U.S. agreement on fraud charges, detained Canadians head home
• Forbes: Canada Will Release Huawei Executive In Deal With U.S.