[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 162 (Tuesday, October 15, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H8128-H8129]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
COMMENDING GOVERNMENT OF CANADA FOR UPHOLDING RULE OF LAW AND
EXPRESSING CONCERN OVER ACTIONS BY GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC
OF CHINA
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
resolution (H. Res. 521) commending the Government of Canada for
upholding the rule of law and expressing concern over actions by the
Government of the People's Republic of China in response to a request
from the United States Government to the Government of Canada for the
extradition of a Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., executive.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 521
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.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Engel) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul) each will
control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.
General Leave
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have
5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on H. Res. 521.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New York?
There was no objection.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, this is a good, bipartisan resolution, and I was glad to
join Ranking Member McCaul as a cosponsor of this bill. This measure
deals with something that we have all seen lately--how China responds
to those who go against the Chinese Communist Party's agenda. Whether
we are talking about individuals, private companies, or countries,
China doesn't hesitate to extort, coerce, and punish those who
challenge it.
Right now, our neighbor to the north, Canada, is experiencing this
firsthand. Back in December, Canada arrested and extradited the chief
financial officer of Chinese company Huawei for her role in violating
American sanctions law. The Canadians were completely in the right
here. They were upholding the rule of law.
China launched an outrageous response, arresting two innocent
Canadian citizens on trumped-up charges. These men are still
languishing in China's detention and legal process limbo, deprived of
their freedom and denied basic consular rights--rights that all
countries should honor--solely because China wanted to use them in a
political bullying tactic. Their rights went out the window.
This is an outrageous affront to the rule of law, and we must condemn
it.
H. Res. 521 denounces this practice by China and sends a clear signal
that the United States Congress stands with Canada in demanding the
immediate release of their innocent citizens.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this good
measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this resolution
commending the Government of Canada for upholding the rule of law and
expressing concern about China's use of hostage diplomacy.
I thank Chairman Engel for cosponsoring this resolution with me. As
always, we work in a very bipartisan way on this committee.
This resolution recognizes Canada's help with the extradition of
Huawei Technologies' chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou. It also
expresses concern with China's retaliatory and hostile actions against
Canadian citizens detained in China.
China's hostage diplomacy is abhorrent. As retaliation for Canada's
arrest of Ms. Meng, Canadian citizens Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor
have been detained in China since last year. They have been denied due
process and have been subjected to harsh conditions, such as limited
consular access, no attorney representation, and lengthy
interrogations. Meanwhile, Ms. Meng has received proper treatment in
Canadian custody and is currently released on bail.
The cases show the stark contrast between Canada's commitment to the
rule of law and China's.
I commend Canada and regret that Canadian citizens are paying the
price of China's malfeasance. Canada's citizens must be released
immediately.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this measure.
Mr. Speaker, in closing, I thank the people of Canada for standing
with us to uphold the rule of law and assist in the extradition of
Huawei's CFO, who is accused of willfully violating United States
sanctions to proliferate technology to Iran. It is unacceptable that
the Chinese Communist Party is punishing innocent Canadian citizens to
interfere in this criminal process.
[[Page H8129]]
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this and stand in
solidarity with Canada. Huawei is creeping around the world with 5G
technology. Everywhere we see One Belt, One Road, we see 5G being
planted down in these countries. They literally steal data from these
countries, now covering half of the globe.
We are in a race with China, and we need to combat their espionage
and intellectual property theft.
Mr. Speaker, I urge support, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume for
the purpose of closing.
Mr. Speaker, again, I thank Ranking Member McCaul for his leadership
in introducing this measure and his hard work in seeing its passage.
China is flouting the international rule of law, targeting anyone who
goes against them. And now, they have our ally Canada in their
crosshairs.
This is a commonsense resolution that shows the United States
condemns this behavior and stands with our ally and with the families
of those unjustly detained.
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support it, and I urge my colleagues to do
the same. I thank Mr. McCaul for introducing it, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 521.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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