The Meng Wanzhou Huawei saga: A timeline

More than two years ago, Canadian police acted on a U.S. warrant and arrested Meng Wanzhou while she was changing planes at the Vancouver International Airport.

Since then, the high-profile case involvingthe Huawei executive's extraditionhas causedheightenedtensions and strained relations between China and Canada and its allies.

Now thatMeng, who is the daughter of the tech giant's billionaire founder Ren Zhengfei, has entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the U.S government, herextradition can be dropped.

But it remains unclear what that means for CanadiansMichaelSpavorand MichaelKovrig,who were detained in Chinajust days after Meng's arrestin what waswidely seen as an act ofretaliation.

Here's a timeline of how the saga unfolded:

August2018: New Yorkjudge issues warrant

In August 2018, ajudge in the Eastern District of New York issuesa warrant for the arrest ofHuaweiChief Financial OfficerMeng Wanzhou.

U.S. authoritiesaccuse Meng of using a Huawei subsidiary, Skycom, to do business in Iran in violation of U.S. economic sanctions against Iran.

Authorities allege that Meng misled an HSBC executive during a 2013 meeting about her corporation's ties to the subsidiary.In court, Meng's lawyers will later claimthat Meng's presentation was not misleadingandthat none of her actions had been shown to cause any alleged harm to the bank.

Dec.1, 2018: Vancouver arrest

On Dec. 1, 2018, Mengis arrested at the Vancouver International Airport by Canadian police. She was on a stopover from Hong Kong, on a business tripen route to Mexico City,Costa Rica, Argentina and France.

According to the terms of the extradition treaty between Canada and the United States, Canada was legally required to arrest herfor extradition to the United States to face charges.

In the days that follow, Huaweiissuesa statementsaying it wasnot aware of any wrongdoing by Meng. The Chinese embassy in Ottawa urges U.S. and Canadian authorities to free Meng.

China's foreign ministry issues a warningto Canada that there will be consequences if theHuawei executive is not releasedimmediately.

Dec. 10, 2018: China detains Canadians

On Dec. 10, former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrigand entrepreneur Michael Spavorare detained on espionage charges in China,nine days after Meng Wanzhouwas arrested in Canada.

As of September 2021, it will be1,000 days since the two were taken into Chinese custody.

Dec. 11, 2018: Mengis released on bail

After days of hearings, Mengwalks out of the B.C. Supreme Court in downtown Vancouver on the evening of Dec. 11, 2018. She is releasedon $10 million bail while awaiting possible extradition to the United States on fraud charges.

Meng's conditions includereporting to a bailsupervisor and maintaining good behaviour. She is also forced to surrender her passport and pay for 24/7 surveillance. She is towear a GPS-monitoring bracelet and stay at a multi-million dollar home she ownson Vancouver's west side.

Dec. 21, 2018:Canada condemns'arbitrary detention' of Canadians

In a statement, CanadianForeign Affairs MinisterChrystiaFreelandcalls for China to immediately release Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig.

"We are deeply concerned by the arbitrary detention by Chinese authorities of two Canadians earlier this month and call for their immediate release," the statement reads.

China responds, saying Meng's arrest was illegal.

Tensions between Canada and China mountin the weeks and months that follow. Chinese authorities claim the detentions are not linked to Meng's arrest.

Jan. 22, 2019: Canadian ambassador faces criticism

Canada's Ambassador to ChinaJohn McCallumfinds himself in hot water after he tells Chinese-language media in Markham, Ont. that he thinksMeng has "strong arguments" to make before the courts as her extradition case moves forward.

"I know this has angered China, but we have a system of extradition treaty, a system of rules of law, which are above the government," the ambassadorsaid at the time."The government cannot change these things, and as I said, I think Ms. Meng has quite a strong case."

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheerresponds, saying Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should fire McCallum.

Jan. 26, 2019: McCallum is out

After facing criticism and calls for his resignation, McCallum says he regretsthosecomments. The following day, he tells a StarMetro Vancouver reporter that it would be"great for Canada" if the United States dropped their extradition request against theHuawei executive.

On Jan. 26, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces he has accepted McCallum's resignation as Canada's ambassador to China.

Jan. 28, 2019: U.S. issues extradition request

In January 2019, the U.S. Department of Justice formally announces13 criminal charges againstthe Chinese telecom giantHuawei, its CFOMengWanzhouand its affiliates in the U.S. and Hong Kong.

Canada's Department ofJustice confirms that officials have received a formal extraditionrequest from the U.S.

Meng isfacingchargesof bank fraud, wire fraudand conspiracy to commitwire fraud.

May 27, 2020: Meng Wanzhou loses court battle

A B.C. Supreme Court judge rulesthat extradition proceedings against Mengshould go aheadbecause the offence Meng is accused of by U.S. prosecutors wouldbe considered a crime if it occurred in Canada.

Just days before,the Huawei executive had appeared to take a premature victory lap, posing for pictures in a staged downtown Vancouver photo shootwhere sheflasheda thumbs-up on the steps of B.C. Supreme Court.

March 21, 2021: Kovrig trial held in private

The two Canadian detainees, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, continue to be held in China.

Kovrig's trial, during which he faces charges for spying on state secrets and providing intelligence outside the country, wraps up on March 21, 2021 in a closed Beijing courtroom.

A spokesperson for the embassy of Canada in China says they were denied access to the hearing. The verdict is expected to be announced at an unspecified later date.

The court saysKovrig's trial was held in private because the case involves state secrets.

Aug. 10, 2021:Spavor sentenced

Despite repeated calls from Ottawa to release Spavor and Kovrig, a Chinese court finds Spavor guilty of espionage and sentences himto 11 years in prison.

Canada maintains that the two menwere arbitrarily detainedand calls on China to grant clemency.

Foreign Affairs Minister Marc Garneaurefers to the proceedings asa "mock sham trial" with no transparency.

Aug. 11, 2021: Meng's extradition hearing begins

On. Aug. 11, the formal hearing on the merits of the U.S. extradition request the final phase of two-and-a-half years of legal battles and diplomatic tensions gets underway beforeB.C. Supreme Court Associate Chief Justice Heather Holmes.

Robert Frater, the lawyer representing Canada's attorney general, argues that Mengfalsely tried to distance Huawei from Skycomwhen "the truth was that Huawei was in full control of Skycom."

Meng denies the charges against herand her defence team argues there is no evidence that she intended to deceive HSBC.

Meng's lawyer, Eric Gottardi, saysthe Crown's case was "fatally flawed" and arguesthere is no evidence Mengdeceived the bank, nor thatHSBC suffered any loss as a result of Meng's actions.

Aug. 18, 2021: Judge adjourns proceedings to render decision

With legal arguments for theextradition case concluded,Chief JusticeHolmes adjournsproceedings on Aug. 18and saysshe doesn'texpect to have a decision for months.

The next court date is set for Oct. 21but Holmes says does not expect to have a verdict ready at that point only a better idea of when one would be delivered.

HuaweiCanada tweets that the company "has been confident in Ms. Meng'sinnocence" from the start.

Sept. 24, 2021: Deferred prosecution agreement and the Michaels head home

Meng Wanzhoureachesa deferred prosecution agreement with the U.S government,resolving the U.S. fraud charges against her.

The agreement clears the way for Canada to drop its extradition proceedings.As part of that arrangement,Meng pleadsnot guilty during a virtual appearance in a New York courtroom.

In a media statement issued later in theevening, the federal Department of Justice confirmsthat the extradition effort has ended and, "Meng Wanzhou is free to leave Canada."

"Canada is a rule of law country," says the statement. "Meng Wanzhou was afforded a fair process before the courts in accordance with Canadian law. This speaks to the independence of Canada's judicial system."

Shortly afterward, Trudeau announces that Spavor and Kovrig are returning to Canada.

"These two men have gone through an unbelievably difficult ordeal," Trudeau said in Ottawa. "For the past 1,000 days, they have shown strength, perseverance, resilience and grace."

Sept. 25, 2021: Spavor and Kovrig land in Calgary, Meng in Shenzhen

The two Canadian men landin Calgary shortly before 8 a.m. ET Saturday aboard a Royal Canadian Air Challenger aircraft.

Meng Wanzhou arrives Saturday evening local time aboard a chartered jet provided by flag carrier Air China in the southern technology hub of Shenzhen, where Huawei is based.