[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 521 Engrossed in House (EH)]

<DOC>
H. Res. 521

                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                      October 15, 2019.
Whereas, on December 1, 2018, Canadian authorities detained Huawei Technologies 
        Co., Ltd., chief financial officer 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 superseding 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 Emergency Economic Powers Act, one count of money 
        laundering conspiracy, and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice;
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 extradition 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 Canadian 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 
        activities during his previous tenure as an accredited diplomat in the 
        People's Republic of China, potentially in violation of the Vienna 
        Convention on Diplomatic Relations, done at Vienna April 18, 1961;
Whereas, on January 14, 2019, a third Canadian, Robert Schellenberg, in Chinese 
        custody for drug smuggling, had 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 
        problems'' in China and that Chinese judges ``regularly received 
        political guidance on pending cases, including instructions on how to 
        rule, from both the government and the CCP [Chinese Communist Party], 
        particularly in politically 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 upholding the rule of law 
        and complying with its international 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 providing consular access 
        and due process for Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., chief financial 
        officer Meng Wanzhou;
            (3) expresses concern over the Government of the People's Republic 
        of China's apparent arbitrary detention and abusive treatment of 
        Canadian nationals Michael 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.