Never-before-seen footage shows Chinese tech giant Huawei's CFO Meng Wanzhou detained by Canadian border agents at Vancouver airport before being arrested under the request of the US
Never-before-seen footage has been released showing Chinese tech giant Huawei's executive Meng Wanzhou detained at the Vancouver International Airport right before she was arrested by Canadian police under a U.S. warrant last December.
The CCTV video was presented by Ms Meng's lawyers to a Canadian court to prove the 47-year-old had been unlawfully detained and questioned by border agents during a stopover in a 'covert criminal investigation'.
The footage emerged as political tensions between China and Canada escalate.
Beijing today accused Ottawa of worsening bilateral relations after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau vowed to stand up to China amid deepening diplomatic and trade disputes.
The two countries have been locked in a feud since last year, when Canada arrested Ms Meng under the request of the United States on December 1 and - in apparent retaliation - China arrested two Canadian nationals over espionage-linked accusations.
Beijing has blocked billions of dollars in Canadian agricultural shipments.
Ms Meng and Huawei is also at the centre of a year-long trade war between Beijing and Washington.
Her arrest caused a diplomatic earthquake between the world's two biggest economies.
Ms Meng, the daughter and heiress-apparent to Huawei's billionaire founder Ren Zhengfei, is currently facing extradition to the U.S. over alleged violations of American sanctions against Iran.
She was released on bail of C$10 million ($7.5 million dollar) on December 11 last year.
The video was among hundreds of pages of document submitted by Ms Meng's lawyer to The Supreme Court of British Columbia on Tuesday ahead of a disclosure hearing at the end of September, when the Crown and defence lay out their cases.
Ms Meng's extradition hearings are to start in January, more than a year after she was arrested, according to CBC News.
Lawyers for Huawei executive Ms Meng alleged in court documents released Wednesday that she was unlawfully detained and questioned by Canadian border agents in Vancouver when Ms Meng was on her way from Hong Kong to Mexico.
It is said the detention lasted for three and a half hours.
A transcript from the documents reveals Ms Meng was surprised after being stopped by the border agents, said CBC.
She was quoted saying: 'You're saying I committed fraud in the United States?
'You're saying, because of my company, you are arresting me?'
Border agents detained her under the pretense of an immigration matter and never alerted her to a U.S. warrant for her arrest, questioning her for hours before eventually handing her over to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the lawyers said.
From the outset of the applicant's detention, the RCMP and border agents were acting on behalf of the FBI for the purpose of obtaining and preserving evidence, Meng's lawyers said.
'The question that remains is to what extent and how the FBI were involved in this scheme.'
Surveillance video released by the court showed Meng moving through the Vancouver airport customs and immigration area, and being escorted and questioned by border agents.
It was released to the press under the consent of the court and Ms Meng's lawyers.
The United States wants to put Meng on trial for fraud for allegedly violating Iran sanctions and lying about it to U.S. banks - accusations her lawyers dispute.
Court documents showed that U.S.-based Citigroup and French bank BNP Paribas were among four banks allegedly misled by Mr Meng about Huawei's business dealings in Iran in breach of U.S. sanctions.
HSBC Holdings and Standard Chartered had been previously named in the case.
Mr Meng's detention provoked a diplomatic row between Canada and China.
None of the allegations against her have been tested in court.
Washington also claims that Huawei's gear could be used by Beijing to spy on Americans - allegations Huawei has repeatedly denied.
In May, the Trump Administration barred Huawei from U.S. networks on grounds of national security.
It also put Huawei and its 68 worldwide affiliates on a U.S. trade blacklist, banning them from buying parts and components - such as microchips - from American companies unless it has special approval.
Huawei later received two 90-day reprieves.
On Wednesday, Trudeau pushed back against Beijing in a speech that promised to 'always defend Canadians and Canadian interests' and to not 'back down'.
At present, China-Canadian relations are facing serious difficulties,' said Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang.
'The responsibility lies entirely on the Canadian side,' he told reporters at a press briefing in Beijing.
'We urge the Canadian side to reflect on its mistakes,' Geng said, adding that Canada should 'immediately' release Meng.
He also called on Canada to refrain from making 'irresponsible remarks' about Hong Kong, which has been plunged into weeks of unrest by pro-democracy demonstrations.
Beijing had warned Canada on Sunday to stop meddling in Hong Kong affairs after Ottawa and the European Union issued a joint statement in support of protesters' 'fundamental right of assembly'.
Canadians are one of the largest expatriate groups in Hong Kong, numbering 300,000, according to Canadian government figures.
