China Tech Exec Arrested While Changing Planes

China is strongly protesting the arrest of a technology exec who was detained while changing planes in Canada. Meng Wanzhou is Huawei's chief financial officer and daughter of the company's founder, the BBC reports. Canadian authorities say she was being sought for extradition to the US, where the company is being investigated for possible violation of sanctions against Iran. Canada's justice department said Meng was arrested in Vancouver on Dec. 1. "As there is a publication ban in effect, we cannot provide any further detail at this time," the department said. "The ban was sought by Ms. Meng."

China's embassy in Ottawa released a statement saying the arrest had "seriously harmed" Meng's human rights, the CBC reports. "The Chinese side has lodged stern representations with the US and Canadian side, and urged them to immediately correct the wrongdoing" and restore Meng's freedom, the statement said. Huawei, the world's third-largest maker of network equipment, said it has been complying with "all applicable laws" and it is "not aware of any misconduct by Ms. Meng." American stock futures and Asian markets tumbled amid fears the arrest will worsen already shaky US-China relations, the Guardian reports. (In 2012, lawmakers warned that Huawei threatened US security.)