Huawei's Meng Wanzhou expected to plead guilty today in U.S. court-Canada Rejoices

[bill barilko]

How soon before the hostage are free?

Huawei's Meng Wanzhou expected to plead guilty today in U.S. court: sources

Huawei executive was arrested back in 2018 on a U.S. extradition request

Chinese tech executive Meng Wanzhou is expected to appear virtually in an American federal courtroom today to plead guilty in the U.S. proceedings against her, say sources.

The Huawei Technologies chief financial officer will pay a fine as part of a plea deal, said the sources, who were not authorized to speak publicly.

Her court appearance was first reported by Reuters.

Sources said if the New York court accepts the deal, Canadian Crown attorneys will appear in a Vancouver court later today to stay extradition proceedings against Meng. She could be free of house arrest as early as today.

The U.S. District Court said Meng will appear virtually at 1 p.m. ET in a Brooklyn courtroom to address a "resolution of the charges against the defendant in this matter."

Families mark 1,000 days since China's detention of Canadians Spavor, Kovrig
Decision on Meng Wanzhou extradition rests with judge as marathon hearing concludes
Today's developments could mark a new phase in the strained relationship between the Canadian and Chinese governments.

The 49-year-old Meng was arrested at Vancouver's airport on Dec. 1, 2018 on a U.S. extradition request on allegations that she lied to a Hong Kong banker in August 2013 about Huawei's control of a subsidiary accused of violating U.S. sanctions against Iran.

A few days later, Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig were detained in what is largely seen as an act of retaliation by Beijing against Canada.

Questions turn to release of Canadians
Both men were charged with espionage. Spavor has been sentenced to 11 years in prison. Kovrig has yet to be sentenced; his trial wrapped in March.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has called the charges "trumped-up." China has long claimed that the cases of Spavor and Kovrig are not linked to Meng's case.

Colin Robertson, who served as a Canadian diplomat in China, said he expects talks between Washington and Beijing will now pivot to returning the two men home.

"You would get the plea by Meng Wanzhou and then at some later date we would see the two Michaels deported back to Canada, but I would not expect it to follow in a matter of days," he told CBC's The Early Edition.

"This would be a negotiation involving Canada but it would be principally between the U.S. and China."

 

[bill barilko]

Free at Last!

China frees Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig after Huawei boss released

Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig were released after tech executive Meng Wanzhou was freed in Canada.

www.bbc.com

Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig released from Chinese detention​

Published2 minutes ago
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IMAGE SOURCE,AFP
image captionMichael Kovrig (r) and Michael Spavor have been held since 2018
Two Canadian nationals have been released from Chinese detention and are flying home to Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced.
Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig were accused of espionage in 2018, soon after Canadian police arrested a top Chinese tech executive on a US warrant.
The Huawei executive, Meng Wanzhou, left Canada earlier today after a deal with US prosecutors.
The detentions have sparked years of diplomatic tensions.
At a news conference, Mr Trudeau said the men had been through "an unbelievably difficult ordeal."
"It is good news for all of us that they are on their way home to their families," he added. "For the past 1,000 days, they have shown strength, perseverance, resilience and grace."

The prime minister said both men will arrive in Canada early on Saturday, are being accompanied by Dominic Barton, Canada's ambassador to China.
Mr Kovrig is a former diplomat employed by International Crisis Group, a Brussels-based think tank.
Mr Spavor is a founding member of an organisation that facilitates international business and cultural ties with North Korea.
The pair were arrested on spying charges, and in March this year a Chinese court sentenced Mr Spavor to 11 years in prison for espionage. Mr Kovrig appeared in court the same month, but the verdict was not finalised.

 

[Ron in Regina]

China has publicly maintained that there is no connection between Meng’s case and the men’s imprisonment. But Beijing has also dropped broad hints that if she were allowed to go free, that could benefit the two Canadians. http://apple.news/As8BzBjtgSJKDdykgqOLzvQ

Experts say the timing of the pair’s release has made the link with Meng’s arrest explicit.

“We always knew that they were linked, it’s just that no one wanted to say it out loud,” said Yves Tiberghien, a political science professor at the University of British Columbia who specializes in Canada-China relations.

What message to the rest of the World & the Worlds Gov’t’s did China send with the arrest & release of these two men? The handful of Communist Chinese that are untouchable are Untouchable (!!!) & the Worlds citizens are ALL potential hostages.

 

[Ron in Regina]

Men boarded flight in China hours after B.C. court drops extradition case against Meng Wanzhou http://apple.news/AlDo9aD7oTqq8outMZ03-1A Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor arrive in Canada after nearly 3-year detention in China

"China ... up until now, has said that there's been no linkage between the two, but by putting them on the plane [Friday night], they've clearly acknowledged that this was hostage-taking," said Colin Robertson, a former Canadian diplomat for more than 30 years.

Chinese authorities had consistently denied that the cases were linked.

The rapid series of events Friday "was a surprise," said Margaret McCuaig-Johnston, a senior fellow at Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Ottawa.

She noted Spavor and Kovrig's detention had already sent a message to other countries "that if they cross China, then Beijing will just pick up a couple of their citizens and hold them hostage.

"And that's a chilling message for other countries to be receiving today."

 

[pgs]

Men boarded flight in China hours after B.C. court drops extradition case against Meng Wanzhou http://apple.news/AlDo9aD7oTqq8outMZ03-1A Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor arrive in Canada after nearly 3-year detention in China

"China ... up until now, has said that there's been no linkage between the two, but by putting them on the plane [Friday night], they've clearly acknowledged that this was hostage-taking," said Colin Robertson, a former Canadian diplomat for more than 30 years.

Chinese authorities had consistently denied that the cases were linked.

The rapid series of events Friday "was a surprise," said Margaret McCuaig-Johnston, a senior fellow at Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Ottawa.

She noted Spavor and Kovrig's detention had already sent a message to other countries "that if they cross China, then Beijing will just pick up a couple of their citizens and hold them hostage.

"And that's a chilling message for other countries to be receiving today."

Simple stay away from China .

 

[Ron in Regina]

Simple stay away from China .

Name a country without a significant population of Chinese (or those of recent Chinese Citizenship) Citizens. The Chinese Communist Party keeps their thumbs on their citizens (& former citizens) abroad through their relative still in China. That’s not a big secret.

China (Chinese still in China) are 1/5 of the global population….& that’s not counting citizens abroad or a single generation or two out of China, etc…how is that avoidable? It’s not the 800lb Panda in the room for nothing.

 

[petros]

People out the wanzhou.

 

[bill barilko]

China releases two Michaels, offers Canada loyalty card good for deals on future hostages

BEIJING - Following a deal that resolved charges against Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou, China has released detained Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, and included a complimentary “Trade For 7 Hostages, Get the 8th Free” loyalty card.

www.thebeaverton.com

China releases two Michaels, offers Canada loyalty card good for deals on future hostages​

BEIJING – Following a deal that resolved charges against Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou, China has released detained Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, and included a complimentary “Trade For 7 Hostages, Get the 8th Free” loyalty card.

Held for over 1000 days of detention in a Chinese prison on unspecified charges of “spying”, Chinese and Canadian diplomatic officials insisted the men were “definitely not hostages” – a claim that became difficult to justify given the small printed card emblazoned with the heading 人质会员卡, which loosely translates to “Hostage Loyalty Card”.

“Despite nearly 3 years of us actively pretending the Wanzhou case and the Two Michaels’ cases had nothing to do with each other, China has completely given up on any pretense that these weren’t hostages,” explained Canada’s Ambassador to China Dominic Barton. “We had a whole ‘Welcome Home From Your Non-Hostage Related International Incident’ banner set up for the Michaels, but now it just seems silly.”

​

“Most troubling of all,” added Barton, “is how the Hostage Loyalty Card has spaces for up to 7 additional hostage takings in the future. That seems… ominous.”

Another Canadian official added “I think the worst part is that even though there’s two Michaels, the Chinese officials only gave us one punch on the loyalty card. What a rip off!”

Reached for comment about their Hostage Loyalty Program, Chinese State officials were uncharacteristically blunt. “Think about it. If you were a country with 38 times the population of Canada, could you think of a single reason to pretend you weren’t taking hostages in retaliation for arresting a high-ranking executive? We’ve got more urgent stuff to do.”

​

“The Hostage Loyalty Program is open to all Western nations and will just save everyone, namely us, a whole lot of time,” concluded the Chinese official. “Plus after 8 punches, you’ll get a free diplomatic hostage AND nifty collectible hat!”

Asked if he should go on pretending future international incidents were not in fact retaliatory hostage takings when using the loyalty card, Chinese officials instructed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to “knock yourself out”.

 

[Dixie Cup]

Men boarded flight in China hours after B.C. court drops extradition case against Meng Wanzhou http://apple.news/AlDo9aD7oTqq8outMZ03-1A Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor arrive in Canada after nearly 3-year detention in China

"China ... up until now, has said that there's been no linkage between the two, but by putting them on the plane [Friday night], they've clearly acknowledged that this was hostage-taking," said Colin Robertson, a former Canadian diplomat for more than 30 years.

Chinese authorities had consistently denied that the cases were linked.

The rapid series of events Friday "was a surprise," said Margaret McCuaig-Johnston, a senior fellow at Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Ottawa.

She noted Spavor and Kovrig's detention had already sent a message to other countries "that if they cross China, then Beijing will just pick up a couple of their citizens and hold them hostage.

"And that's a chilling message for other countries to be receiving today."

So why the hell would anyone go there? Seriously?

 

[pgs]

So why the hell would anyone go there? Seriously?

The Great Wall .

 

[petros]

The Great Wall .

The Great Wall Of Buffet.

 

[harrylee]

I wonder if Trudeau will be there to greet them when they land in Canada?

And......How about a 10.5 million check for each for the cruel punsihment they had to endure? After all, the Canadian government failed to represent them, just as they failed Kadar.

It's only fair, right?

 

[pgs]

The Great Wall Of Buffet.

That too .

 

[pgs]

I wonder if Trudeau will be there to greet them when they land in Canada?

And......How about a 10.5 million check for each for the cruel punsihment they had to endure? After all, the Canadian government failed to represent them, just as they failed Kadar.

It's only fair, right?

Nah , wrong religion .

 

[spaminator]

 

[spaminator]

i guess they wont be celebrating at mandarin.

Home - Mandarin

We celebrate life's special moments and everyday wins with everyone. We do this with high quality food, a warm atmosphere and friendly service for our customers. OUR STORY Enjoy the Taste of Mandarin at Home Choose from our extensive selection of award-winning dishes and enjoy it all in the...

mandarinrestaurant.com

 

[spaminator]

they had to hug justine. im surprised they didnt ask to be sent back.

 

[Ron in Regina]

https://apple.news/A2Hvo4msiTtSGE1C5tUC0HQ Sabrina Maddeaux: So China let the two Michaels go. This won't end here:

Now that China got what it wanted all along, it’s dropped any hint of pretense. One might’ve expected the country’s officials to wait a few weeks and perhaps release the Michaels before the holidays on some sort of humanitarian grounds or as a goodwill gesture. That they’d at least pretend to bow to international norms. Instead, the message was, “Oh yeah? What are you gonna do about it?”

The two Michaels won’t be their last diplomatic hostages– in fact, China still holds Australian news anchor Cheng Lei, among others. The moment for pretending China isn’t the biggest international threat of our times is long gone.

 

[Mowich]

I wonder if Trudeau will be there to greet them when they land in Canada?

And......How about a 10.5 million check for each for the cruel punsihment they had to endure? After all, the Canadian government failed to represent them, just as they failed Kadar.

It's only fair, right?

He was - in shirt sleeves no less.

 

[Mowich]

https://apple.news/A2Hvo4msiTtSGE1C5tUC0HQ Sabrina Maddeaux: So China let the two Michaels go. This won't end here:

Now that China got what it wanted all along, it’s dropped any hint of pretense. One might’ve expected the country’s officials to wait a few weeks and perhaps release the Michaels before the holidays on some sort of humanitarian grounds or as a goodwill gesture. That they’d at least pretend to bow to international norms. Instead, the message was, “Oh yeah? What are you gonna do about it?”

The two Michaels won’t be their last diplomatic hostages– in fact, China still holds Australian news anchor Cheng Lei, among others. The moment for pretending China isn’t the biggest international threat of our times is long gone.

What royally pisses me off and has since the Two Michaels were detained is that they were thrown into prisons while that meng creature lived in the lap of luxury. There isn't money enough to repay the terror, grief, pain and suffering they went through but this frickin' government better come up with a good chunk anyway.