Meng Wanzhou, vice chairman of Chinese telecommunication equipment maker Huawei, was released after two years and nine months. Meng Wanzhou has been under house arrest for having done business with Iran, which is sanctioned by the United States. There is growing interest in whether this release can be a breakthrough in the US-China conflict.
Correspondent Lee Ji-eun.
[기자]
Vice Chairman Meng Wanzhou leaves the house with a bright expression.
As usual, I wore an electronic anklet on one ankle.
A Canadian court rejected a request from the United States to extradite Meng.
After two years and nine months of freedom, Meng immediately returned to China.
[멍완저우/중국 화웨이 부회장 : 고맙습니다.]
In 2018, at the request of the US government, Canadian police arrested Meng.
Since then, he has been under house arrest on bail.
Her appearance in colorful clothes and high shoes with an electronic anklet was considered a symbol of resistance in China.
[멍완저우/중국 화웨이 부회장 : 지난 3년 동안 제 삶은 완전히 뒤집혔습니다. 제게 아주 힘든 시간이었습니다. 엄마이자 아내, 회사(화웨이) 경영진으로서도 말입니다.]
Meng, the chief financial officer, has been accused of selling telecommunication equipment to Iran, which is subject to US sanctions.
In fact, the US believes that it is a ghost company controlled by Huawei and has illegally traded with Iran.
After Meng admitted some of his mistakes, the U.S. Department of Justice decided to dismiss the allegations of financial fraud.
They agreed to refrain from prosecuting Meng for a certain period of time.
Shortly after Meng was arrested, two Canadians held on spying charges in China were also released on the same day.
[쥐스탱 트뤼도/캐나다 총리 : 이 둘(석방된 캐나다인)은 믿을 수 없을 정도의 시련을 겪었습니다. (석방에 대해) 동맹들과 전 세계 파트너들에게 감사하고 싶습니다.]
The release of Meng this time could be a breakthrough in the US-China conflict, Bloomberg News predicted.
