China has asked US authorities to drop criminal charges and extradition efforts against Meng Wanzhou, a top executive of Chinese telecommunications equipment maker Huawei and treat Chinese firms running in the US fairly. 

(Photo: VCG)

China is highly concerned with Meng's case, Chinese Foreign Affairs spokesperson Geng Shuang said on Tuesday in a statement following the US indictment against Huawei and Meng. 

The US Justice Department announced criminal charges against Huawei and its chief finance executive, who was released on bail in Canada in December. She may return to court in February for her possible extradition US prosecutors are seeking for.

China persistently demands that Chinese firms’ overseas operations be lawful and treated equally and fairly, while the US has been trying to strangle their normal commercial activities with its national power, a behavior which China views as political manipulation, said the statement. 

The statement said China condemns the unreasonable suppression of Chinese firms and is determined to protect their legal and legitimate rights. 

China also called Canadian authorities to free Meng and correct the abusive use of the extradition deal with the US, saying it’s inapplicable to Chinese citizens.