Canada’s ambassador to China has been sacked after claiming that Huawei’s CFO has a “strong case” against being extradited to the USA, and suggesting that Ottawa will be better off releasing the Chinese national.
The dismissal of ambassador McCallum, follows his statements, seemingly defending the Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou who was arrested in Vancouver at the request of the USA over her alleged violations of Washington’s sanctions on Iran.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation, without providing the reason behind the dismissal of the diplomat.
Meng, who was granted bail last month but remains under house arrest with strict conditions, is due to start arguing her case next month in a legal battle that could drag for months.
Earlier this week, the USA informed Canada that it will start formal extradition proceedings. In the USA, the 46-year-old business executive faces accusations of defrauding multiple financial institutions in breach of US-imposed bans on dealing with Iran.
Beijing has repeatedly called on Canadian authorities to release the Chinese national or face “serious consequences.”China believes that her arrest is part of US attempt to diminish the Chinese tech companies’ stake on the global market amid the ongoing trade war.
In the meantime, in what some believe to be retaliation, Beijing arrested two Canadians, Michael Kovrig, a former diplomat, and Michael Spavor, a prominent consultant on North Korean business issues, on accusations of harming national security.
RT. com / ABC Flash Point Diplomatic News 2019.
