Chinese state media furious at Canada over Meng Wanzhou decision

The Chinese state media has become enraged with Canada after the BC Supreme Court ruled that the charges faced by Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou in the United States could also be a crime in Canada, according to the National Post.

On Wednesday, Associate Chief Justice Heather Holmes of the B.C. Supreme Court said the Wanzhou case should proceed.

Meng Wanzhou is accused of misrepresenting the relationship Huawei has with Skycom Tech Co. and giving false statements which could lead to a violation of sanctions that the US has put on Iran. She was arrested at the Vancouver airport in 2018 by RCMP.

In China, Canada’s decision to detain Meng Wanzhou is often described as Ottawa doing the dirty work for the US.  China feels that the US wants to destroy its tech giant Huawei and the decision to proceed with the case has left the Chinese media furious.

Shortly after the ruling, an article in the Global Times, a Chinese state-funded newspaper, an expert said that the decision won’t be a problem for Huawei “because the company will not succumb to the US because of any individual.” Then later went on to say that the decision will “make Canada a pathetic clown and a scapegoat in the fight between China and the US.”

"Huawei will not bow to US over the unjustified detention of any individual, and the Chinese technology giant, which has survived the US’ relentless crackdown, will push forward amid headwinds—like a jet riddled with bullets yet still flying its mission." said the article, giving the opinion of veteran industry analyst, Xiang Ligang.

He Weiwen, a former senior official, warned in the article that the verdict will make relations between China and Canada "worse than ever."

Mei Xinyu fears that Canada will detain Meng Wanzhou as a "hostage" indefinitely. Xinyu is described as “an expert close to China’s Commerce Ministry,” by the Global Times.

“Being kept by the US as a key hostage to contain China’s industrial upgrading and maintain its parasitic hegemony, the US will hardly let Meng free,” said Mei.

Meng Wanzhou will enter into the next phase of the proceedings which entails the court being presented with arguments as to whether or not her arrest could be considered unlawful.

The final verdict on Wanzhou's possible extradition to the United States will fall on David Lametti, Canada's Justice Minister.

Nine days after Meng Wanzhou's arrest, two Canadians, Michael Spavor, an entrepreneur and ex-diplomat Michael Kovrig were arrested in China. The two men currently remain in custody.