A Top Huawei Executive Is Arrested in Canada for Extradition to the U.S.
SAN FRANCISCO — The chief financial officer of the Chinese technology company Huawei Technologies, Meng Wanzhou, was arrested on Saturday in Canada at the request of the United States, according to Canadian authorities.
The arrest of Ms. Meng, a daughter of the company’s founder, is likely to escalate tensions between the United States and China over technology issues, just as the two countries appeared to have reached a trade truce.
“Wanzhou Meng was arrested in Vancouver on Dec. 1,” said Ian McLeod, a spokesman for Canada’s Justice Department. “She is sought for extradition by the United States and a bail hearing has been set for Friday.” He said that a publication ban requested by Ms. Meng prevented him from providing any further details.
Huawei, one of China’s biggest makers of telecom networking equipment and phones, has long faced scrutiny as a security threat in the United States. Washington has expressed concern about using Huawei’s telecommunications equipment, citing spying risk because of the company’s close ties to the Chinese government. Huawei has been under investigation for breaking American trade controls to countries including Cuba, Iran, Sudan and Syria.
Huawei has long tried to make inroads into the United States with its business, but has been bedeviled by the security concerns. In January, Huawei’s effort to sell a new line of smartphones in the United States was derailed when AT&T walked away from a deal to distribute the devices.
Ian Austen contributed reporting from Ottawa.
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