Dec. 9 (UPI) -- Chinas summoned the U.S. ambassador for a meeting Sunday after the chief financial officer of Huawei Technologies Co. was arrested in Canada for allegedly violating American sanctions on selling technology to Iran.
Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng lodged a "strong protest" on the detention of Meng Wanzhou, 46, during a meeting with Terry Branstad, the U.S. ambassador to China.
The minister said U.S. actions have violated the "legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens and are extremely bad in nature," according to a posting on the ministry website. "China will take further action based on the U.S. actions."
One day earlier, Canada's ambassador to China, John McCallum, was also summoned to the ministry.
He warned Canada to release Meng immediately or face "grave consequences" for violating Meng's rights and ignoring the law. Le told the state media outlet Xinhua News Agency that the detention was "unreasonable, unconscionable and vile in nature."
Meng was arrested in Vancouver on Dec. 1 with extradition sought to the United States.
Meng had hidden ties between Huawei and a company called Skycom doing business in Iran, said a lawyer representing Canada during a court hearing in Vancouver on behalf of the U.S. Justice Department.
Meng faces up to 30 years in prison in the United States.
Meng's attorney David Martin said she would submit to electronic monitoring and wouldn't be a flight risk.
Meng's arrest came on the same day U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Argentina and agreed to hold off on new tariffs while trying to reach an agreement.
