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H. Res. 521
In the House of Representatives, U. S.,
October 15, 2019.
Whereas, on December 1, 2018, Canadian authorities de-
tained Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., chief financial of-
ficer Meng Wanzhou based on an arrest warrant issued
pursuant to a request made by the United States under
the Extradition Treaty Between the United States of
America and Canada, signed at Washington December 3,
1971;
Whereas, on January 24, 2019, the United States filed a su-
perseding indictment in the United States District Court
for the Eastern District of New York against Huawei
Technologies Co., Ltd. (‘‘Huawei’’), Huawei Device USA
Inc., Skycom Tech Co. Ltd. (‘‘Skycom’’), and Meng
Wanzhou;
Whereas the January 24, 2019, indictment charges two
counts of bank fraud, two counts of conspiracy to commit
bank fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit wire
fraud, one count of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy
to defraud the United States, two counts of conspiracy to
violate the International Emergency Economic Powers
Act, two counts of violations of the International Emer-
gency Economic Powers Act, one count of money laun-
dering conspiracy, and one count of conspiracy to ob-
struct justice;
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Whereas the January 24, 2019, indictment charges that
‘‘Huawei operated Skycom as an unofficial subsidiary to
obtain otherwise prohibited U.S.-origin goods, technology,
and services, including banking services, for Huawei’s
Iran-based business while concealing the link to Huawei’’;
Whereas the United States Government is seeking the extra-
dition of Meng Wanzhou;
Whereas Canadian authorities granted Meng Wanzhou access
to Chinese consular officials, and she was able to engage
a lawyer of her choice and was released on bail pending
the outcome of the extradition hearing;
Whereas the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly
urged Canada ‘‘to immediately release’’ Meng Wanzhou
and threatened that otherwise ‘‘it will definitely have
grave consequences, and [Canada] will have to bear the
full responsibility for it’’;
Whereas the Government of the People’s Republic of China
detained Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig and Cana-
dian executive Michael Spavor on December 10, 2018, in
apparent retaliation for the arrest of Meng Wanzhou;
Whereas Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig have faced
harsh conditions while in detention that include limited
consular access, no access to a lawyer, being unable to
turn off the lights at night, and lengthy interrogations,
including in the case of Mr. Kovrig, about his official ac-
tivities during his previous tenure as an accredited dip-
lomat in the People’s Republic of China, potentially in
violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Rela-
tions, done at Vienna April 18, 1961;
Whereas, on January 14, 2019, a third Canadian, Robert
Schellenberg, in Chinese custody for drug smuggling, had
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his case reviewed and his 15-year sentence changed to
the death penalty;
Whereas the Department of State’s Country Report on
Human
Rights
Practices
for
2018
stated
that
‘‘[a]rbitrary arrest and detention remained serious prob-
lems’’ in China and that Chinese judges ‘‘regularly re-
ceived political guidance on pending cases, including in-
structions on how to rule, from both the government and
the CCP [Chinese Communist Party], particularly in po-
litically sensitive cases’’; and
Whereas while neither Michael Kovrig nor Michael Spavor
has been formally charged with any crime under Chinese
law, the Government of the People’s Republic of China
formally arrested them on May 6, 2019, following their
detention on December 10, 2018: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
(1) commends the Government of Canada for up-
holding the rule of law and complying with its inter-
national legal obligations, including those pursuant to
the Extradition Treaty Between the United States of
America and Canada, signed at Washington December
3, 1971;
(2) commends the Government of Canada for pro-
viding consular access and due process for Huawei Tech-
nologies Co., Ltd., chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou;
(3) expresses concern over the Government of the
People’s Republic of China’s apparent arbitrary deten-
tion and abusive treatment of Canadian nationals Mi-
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chael Spavor and Michael Kovrig in apparent retaliation
for the Government of Canada’s detention of Meng
Wanzhou; and
(4) joins the Government of Canada in calling for
the immediate release of Michael Spavor and Michael
Kovrig and for due process for Canadian national Robert
Schellenberg.
Attest:
Clerk.