INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Image copyrightReuters Image caption
Meng Wanzhou was detained while transferring between flights in Vancouver
China is demanding the release of telecoms giant Huawei's chief financial officer, who has been detained in Canada
Meng Wanzhou, the daughter of the company's founder, could face extradition to the US
She was arrested in Vancouver on 1 December, but the news was not made public at her request
The charges remain unknown but the US has been probing Huawei over possible violation of sanctions against Iran.China says her detention is
possibly a rights abuse.Ms Meng has sought a publication ban on the details of the arrest, which has been granted by the courts
Huawei said it was "not aware of any wrongdoing by Ms Meng".Huawei is one of the largest telecommunications equipment and services providers
in the world, recently passing Apple to become the second-biggest smartphone maker after Samsung.European shares hit a two-year low and
indexes across Asia dropped sharply following the arrest
How has China responded A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson told reporters: "The detention without giving any reason violates a person's
human rights." "We have made solemn representations to Canada and the US, demanding that both parties immediately clarify the reasons for
the detention, and immediately release the detainee to protect the person's legal rights."Beijing has itself frequently been accused by
rights groups of rights abuses including unexplained detentions.Ms Meng's arrest comes at a sensitive time for US-China relations
The nations are engaged in a trade war that has seen both impose duties of billions of dollars on one another's goods.Image copyrightGetty
ImagesImage caption
Huawei is one of the largest telecommunications equipment and services providers in the world
But concerns the arrest would impact the 90-day tariff truce negotiated between the two nations at the G20 have not yet
China announced in a regular press briefing on Thursday that it would "immediately" implement the measures agreed
It also coincides with moves to restrict the use of Huawei technology in Western countries
The US, Australia and New Zealand have blocked the use of the Chinese firm's equipment in infrastructure for new faster 5G mobile
networks.What has Canada saidCanada's ministry of justice confirmed the date and place of Ms Meng's arrest and added: "She is sought for
extradition by the United States, and a bail hearing has been set for Friday."It said it could not say more as Ms Meng had sought a ban on
the publication of details and this had been ordered by the courts.The British Columbia supreme court said she made her first court
appearance in Vancouver on Wednesday.A spokesman for the US justice department in the Eastern District of New York - which Huawei said had
brought the charges - declined to comment.The gloves are offBy Karishma Vaswani, TheIndianSubcontinent Asia Business CorrespondentIt is hard
to overstate the symbolism and significance of this event
Huawei is the crown jewel of Chinese tech and Ms Meng is effectively its princess
Even though it's still not clear what the charges against her are, this is not simply a case about the arrest of one woman, or just one
company.This arrest could materially damage the relationship between the US and China at possibly one of the most sensitive times between
the two countries in their long and torrid history.The gloves are off
Things have taken a dramatic turn for the worse.What could be behind itUS media have reported that Huawei is under investigation for
potential violations of US sanctions against Iran.One report in the New York Times said the US commerce and treasury departments had
subpoenaed the firm over suspected violation of sanctions against both Iran and North Korea.US lawmakers have repeatedly accused the company
of being a threat to US national security, arguing that its technology could be used for spying by the Chinese government
Reacting to the arrest, US Senator Ben Sasse told Associated Press that China was aggressively engaged in undermining US national security
interests, often "using private sector entities"."Americans are grateful that our Canadian partners have arrested the chief financial
officer," he added.In a statement, Huawei said it had complied with "all applicable laws and regulations where it operates, including
applicable export control and sanction laws and regulations of the UN, US and EU."The arrest is a top trending topic on Chinese social
media, TheIndianSubcontinent Monitoring says, with many users criticising the US and Canada for what they call "low" and "bullying"
tactics.Why is Huawei a concern to the WestSome Western governments fear Beijing will gain access to fifth-generation (5G) mobile and other
communications networks through Huawei and expand its spying ability, although the firm insists there is no government control.Image
copyrightReutersImage caption
Meng Wanzhou was pictured with Russian President Vladimir Putin at a 2014 investment event
in Moscow
Security concerns recently led BT to bar Huawei equipment from the heart of the 5G network it is rolling out in
the UK.New Zealand has blocked Huawei equipment over national security concerns, after Australia imposed a similar ban on both Huawei and
fellow communications firm ZTE
The US has brought a number of legal cases against Chinese technology firms, with accusations such as cyber-security theft and violations of
Iran sanctions.Earlier this year, it barred US companies from exporting to ZTE, effectively shutting down the firm
The US later replaced the ban with a fine and governance changes.The US has also restricted US firms from selling parts to Chinese chipmaker
Fujian Jinhua.The UK has not blocked firms from using Huawei, although BT, which dominates the UK's telecoms network, said this week it
would not use the Chinese firm's equipment in its "core" 5G infrastructure
What are the Iran sanctionsDonald Trump last month reinstated all the US sanctions on Iran that had been removed under a 2015 nuclear
deal.Mr Trump had been fiercely opposed to the deal, which saw Iran limit its controversial nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions
relief.The re-imposed sanctions hit oil exports, shipping and banks - indeed all core parts of Iran's economy.Although there are some
waivers, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has said the US will "aggressively" target any firm or organisation "evading our
sanctions".The European Union is standing by the Iran deal and has pledged to protect firms from the impact of US sanctions
