Canada sinks ever deeper into mire: China Daily editorial

It seems that the US Justice Department is talking with the lawyers of Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of Huawei, to resolve the criminal charges against her.

It is thought the US plea deal will require Meng to "admit" to some of the charges, which could result in Huawei being faced with a hefty fine from the US Justice Department.

But Meng has so far refused any deal, steadfastly maintaining her innocence. So it remains to be seen if the US is prepared to withdraw its arrest warrant for Meng and the request for her extradition from Canada, which would seem to be the basis for a deal.

Her arrest by the Canadian police at the request of the United States on Dec 1, 2018, was a dirty undertaking, and one that has brought shame on both the US and Canada.

But while the politically motivated manipulation of justice reflects badly on the US, it is not out of character, since it has resorted to such chicanery in the past.

Better was expected of Canada. However, in its eagerness to do the US' bidding, it has been putting itself into an ever-more embarrassing and awkward position. Not only has it proved to be a willing conspirator with the US but also a craven dissembler.

It is the Canadian prosecutors who have jumped out to show the lengths the country is willing to go to in its attempts to cover up its ignominy.

Hoping to hide the nature of the maneuvers of the US government by requesting the Canadian court disregard an affidavit by former White House lawyer Michael Gottlieb, the prosecutors have instead put the spotlight on both the dirtiness of the US' deeds and Canada's collusion with them.

Testifying that US President Donald Trump had departed from longstanding legal policies designed to promote the "impartial administration of justice" with his comments that he was willing to use Meng as a bargaining chip in trade talks with China, Gottlieb's affidavit exposes the nature of the charges against Meng which have been fabricated for political convenience.

Thanks to this, it is impossible to mistake who is the real boss behind the Canadian justice system.

Canada is paying a high price for being an accomplice of the US and colluding with its skulduggery. Despite its subsequent bleatings that it had no option but to comply with the US request to detain Meng, it had the right to refuse the extradition request since it was clear from the US administration's attacks on Huawei that Meng was being sought for political reasons.

With the US trying to get out of the mess it has made for itself, Canada will have nothing to show for its role in this unsavory business except for having the reputation of being a hired hand of the US.

To salvage some remnants of its image, Canada should immediately release Meng and let her return to China safely.