A woman uses her mobile phone in front of a Huawei logo at Beijing International Consumer Electronics Expo in Beijing.
Camera IconA woman uses her mobile phone in front of a Huawei logo at Beijing International Consumer Electronics Expo in Beijing. Credit: AFP

Huawei’s global CFO arrested for allegedly violating US sanctions on Iran

Reuters and APNews Corp Australia Network

Canada has arrested Huawei’s global chief financial officer in Vancouver, where she is facing extradition to the United States on suspicion she violated US sanctions against Iran.

Canadian authorities confirmed the arrest with Justice Department spokesman Ian McLeod said Meng Wanzhou was detained in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Saturday.

McLeod said a publication ban had been imposed in the case and he could not provide further details. The ban was sought by Ms Meng, who has a bail hearing Friday, he said.

The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this year that US authorities are investigating whether Chinese tech giant Huawei violated sanctions on Iran.

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Ms Meng, also known as Sabrina Meng, is one of the vice-chairs on the Chinese technology company’s board and the daughter of company founder Ren Zhengfei.

It’s understood Ms Meng was arrested on December 1 and a court hearing has been set for Friday.

The Huawei logo is seen in a shop in Shanghai.
Camera IconThe Huawei logo is seen in a shop in Shanghai. Credit: AFP

Huawei issued a statement saying Ms Meng was changing flights in Canada when she was detained “on behalf of the United States of America” to face “unspecified charges” in New York.

“The company has been provided very little information regarding the charges and is not aware of any wrongdoing by Ms Meng,” the statement said.

Huawei said it complies with all laws and rules where it operates, including export controls and sanctions of the United Nations, the US and European Union.

Ms Meng also serves as the company’s deputy chairwoman. She joined Huawei in 1993 and has held the positions of Director of the International Accounting Dept, CFO of Huawei Hong Kong, and President of the Accounting Management Department, according to the company’s website.

Huawei is one of the world’s largest makers of telecommunications network equipment.

Meng Wanzhou, also known as Sabrina Meng, is Huawei's global chief financial officer and also the company's deputy chairwoman.
Camera IconMeng Wanzhou, also known as Sabrina Meng, is Huawei's global chief financial officer and also the company's deputy chairwoman. Credit: Supplied

US SANCTIONS

In April, China appealed to Washington to avoid damaging business confidence following the Wall Street Journal report that US authorities were investigating whether Huawei violated sanctions on Iran amid spiraling technology tensions.

A foreign ministry spokeswoman, Hua Chunying, said then that China opposes any country imposing unilateral sanctions based on its own law.

Asked about the report that Huawei was under investigation, Hua said in April, “We hope the US will refrain from taking actions that could further undermine investor confidence in the US business environment and harm its domestic economy and normal, open, transparent and win-win international trade.”

That same month Washington barred Huawei rival ZTE Corp from exporting US technology in a separate case over exports to Iran and North Korea Trump has threatened to raise tariffs on Chinese goods in response to complaints that Beijing improperly pressures foreign companies to hand over technology.

That is widely seen as part of a broader effort by Washington to respond to intensifying competition with Chinese technology industries that Trump says benefit from improper subsidies and market barriers.

US Senator Ben Sasse, a member of the Senate Armed Services and Banking committees, said China is working to undermine US national security interests.

“Sometimes Chinese aggression is explicitly state-sponsored and sometimes it’s laundered through many of Beijing’s so-called ‘private’ sector entities that are in bed with Xi’s communist party,” the Nebraska Republican said in a statement.

“Americans are grateful that our Canadian partners have arrested the Chief Financial Officer of a giant Chinese telecom company for breaking US sanctions against Iran.”

Originally published as Huawei’s female CFO arrested