text: HUAWEI: Beijing’s ambassador has warned that Canada risks driving away Chinese investors and companies if it bans Huawei Technologies from its 5G internet infrastructure, saying he hoped Canada had learned its lesson from the outcome of the “Meng Wanzhou incident.” Meng Wanzhou was the Huawei Chief Financial Officer arrested and held by Canadian police on behalf of the U.S. DOJ for financial fraud in circumventing U.S. sanctions on Iran. The move resulted in two Canadian citizens being jailed on spurious espionage charges. The issue was resolved when Wanzhou was released following the U.S. DOJ recommendations for deferral. (AC: China is bullying Canada once again. This time in order to put Huawei in a competitive position for Canada’s 5G telecom contracts. Canada is expected to make a decision on 5G during the current session of parliament. The U.S. is pressuring member countries of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance to reject Chinese-made 5G infrastructure due to security concerns. – M.M.)NDAA: The House passed the defense spending bill and the Senate expects to follow suit next week. Notable additions include $7.1 billion for a Pacific Defense Initiative, $4 billion for the European Defense Initiative, and removing female Selective Service registration from the final version. Overall spending increased by $25 billion above the President’s original request. (AC: The quick increases in funding for Pacific and European operations indicate that legislators are taking the growing regional threats seriously. $300 million in new weapons aid to Ukraine may upset the Russians, but was welcomed publicly by Ukrainian politicians. Serious doubts remain about the U.S. ability to fight a two-front war, but the defense funding priorities indicate that it may be just a matter of time.