Huawei's CEO said his arrested daughter should be proud to be a bargaining chip in the US-China trade war

Huawei CEO Ren Zhengfei, who is also Meng's father, told CNN his daughter should feel "proud" to be a bargaining chip in the US-China trade war.
Meng is fighting extradition to the US, and published a blog on the anniversary of her arrest saying she spends her time reading and oil painting.
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Huawei CEO Ren Zhengfei said in an interview with CNN that his daughter and company CFO Meng Wanzhou who is currently under house arrest in Canada and fighting extradition to the US should be proud to be caught in the crossfire between the US and Huawei.

Meng was arrested at the behest of the US while stopping over in Vancouver just over a year ago. "She should be proud to have been caught in this situation. In the fight between the two nations, she became a bargaining chip," said Ren.

Huawei is at the centre of the US-China trade war. Meng was accused in December 2018 of violating trade sanctions with Iran through Huawei subsidiaries. She has denied the allegations. The US later placed Huawei on a trade blacklist, citing national security concerns. Huawei has denied accusations that it spies for China.

"As a father I of course care about my children," said Ren. "However the experience of hardship is good and suffering is good for Meng and her growth."

It isn't the first curious parental comment from Ren. The entrepreneur has previously said his children have not had enough hardship in their lives.

Ren Zhengfei huawei Kyodo News via Getty Image

"Under the grand backdrop of the China-US trade war she is like a small ant, being caught between the collision of two giant powers," he said.

While Meng's mother and husband fly out to see her in Vancouver, Ren said he talks to her on the phone and sometimes sends her "funny stories I saw online." He added that their relationship has become closer since her arrest.

"In the past Meng Wanzhou might not give me a single call in a whole year. She wouldn't ask how I was, or even send me a text message," he said.

Meng also published a post on Huawei's blog to mark the anniversary of her arrest.

"It was never my intention to be stuck here so long, but I suddenly find that a whole year has snuck by, and here I still am," she wrote. Meng currently lives in two houses she owns in Vancouver according to CNN, and has to wear an ankle tag.

Meng Wanzhou ankle tag Karen Ducey /GettyImages

"Right now, time seems to pass slowly. It is so slow that I have enough time to read a book from cover to cover. I can take the time to discuss minutiae with my colleagues or to carefully complete an oil painting," she said of her time under arrest.

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Huawei's CEO said his arrested daughter should be proud to be a bargaining chip in the US-China trade war

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