Canada allows Huawei CFO's extradition hearing

Canada on Friday (local time) allowed the United States to initiate an extradition hearing for Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou, who was detained in Canada in December last year.

CNN quoted Canada's Department of Justice confirming that Meng, who is currently under house arrest and will appear in the court once again on Wednesday (March 6) in Vancouver, will be scheduled the date of hearing that could result in her extradition to New York.

Canadian officials said that the justice department's decision on Friday followed a "thorough and diligent review" of the evidence in the case, as the department was "satisfied" that there was "sufficient evidence" for the case to be put before a judge.

If Meng is not found guilty and the judge approves her extradition then the country's minister of justice - its highest-ranking judicial official - will have the final decision in the case.

In addition to this, if Meng is extradited to the US, she will face trial there.

Meng was arrested on December 1 last year while transferring planes at Vancouver International Airport en route to Mexico from Hong Kong. She was held on alleged charges of violating the sanctions imposed by the US on Iran.

Late in January, the US Department of Justice announced 13 criminal charges against Huawei, Meng Wanzhou, and its affiliates in the US and Hong Kong, following a formal extradition request from Washington.

In a response to this, the Chinese Foreign Ministry urged the US to withdraw the request of Meng's extradition and warned that Beijing would take action if Washington went ahead with its measures.