A high flying Chinese executive has unfortunately been caught in a geopolitical conflict between the world’s two largest economies. Meng Wanzhou, the chief financial officer of Huawei, was arrested in Canada on December 1 for supposedly breaking US sanctions in Iran. Despite China and Huawei’s claims that she has not broken any laws, Wanzhou could face up to 30 years in jail if found guilty. Prosecutors say she conspired to defraud banks by telling banks Huawei was a separate company, according to BBC News. Wanzhou was taken into custody in Vancouver during her layover which is now sparking diplomatic tension between the US, Canada and China. As the Supreme Court reviewed her case and details about her personal life were uncovered; such as eating disorders, medication needed, Wanzhou’s sleep disorder and the fact that she has four children, one of which is studying at a university in Massachusetts. The details about Ms. Meng that were displayed in court humanized her case tremendously. Wanzhou owns two homes in Vancouver where it is a popular destination for the Chinese to live, educate their children and keep this home as a form of insurance due to the untrustworthy Chinese government. This article increased Wanzhou’s chances of gaining voters because it emphasized how small of a flight risk she is in addition to being a Canadian resident until moving back to China. In my opinion, Wanzhou may have more to her story on what her true intentions were but I highly doubt she was purposefully causing any damage. However, I do find her detainment necessary at the time because of her Chinese roots and China’s increasing economic growth. On the other hand, a negative that worries people about the successful Chinese business woman is the mystery of how she obtained seven different passports and the tension that is arising between China, Canada and the US.
