Canada Detained Huawei Vice Chairman's Return Path Opens... Signal of US-China Conflict Thaw? (Comprehensive)

U.S. Department of Justice Announces Deferred Prosecution Agreement with Huawei Vice Chair Meng Wanzhou Today
Vice Chair Meng Detained in Canada for Third Year
Announcement Timed with Quad Summit

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] The United States is expected to return Meng Wanzhou, Huawei's Vice Chairwoman, who has been detained in Canada for three years, to China.

Attention is focused on whether the U.S. is sending a conciliatory signal to China in conjunction with the first Quad summit, an anti-China alliance.

The Wall Street Journal reported on the 24th (local time), citing sources, that the U.S. Department of Justice and Meng have reached a deferred prosecution agreement. The agreement is expected to be officially announced later that day.

The deferred prosecution agreement means that Meng admits her guilt, and the prosecution cancels the fraud charges against her. To this end, Meng is scheduled to appear via video at the U.S. federal court in Brooklyn, New York, on the same day.

Meng was arrested at Vancouver Airport in Canada in December 2018 on fraud charges related to Huawei's dealings with Iran and has been undergoing extradition hearings in Canadian courts to determine whether she should be sent to the U.S.

Since her arrest in Canada, Meng has been under house arrest for three years. China has protested Meng's arrest and demanded her extradition, causing conflicts not only with the U.S. but also with Canada.

A major foreign media outlet reported that this deferred prosecution agreement removes one of the core disputes between the U.S. and China. The Wall Street Journal also noted that amid rising regional tensions due to the launch of AUKUS, involving the U.S., the U.K., and Australia, and Australia's acquisition of nuclear submarines, this could be a signal for easing tensions.

Coincidentally, on the same day, the first Quad summit involving the leaders of the U.S., the U.K., India, and Australia is also being held at the White House.