I don't believe Canada was played. I doubt she would have ever taken a flight through the USA and therefore this was probably their only chance to get her.

The sealed indictment for her arrest was 4 months ago on Aug 22, she has traveled through numerous countries including Canada in that time. The arrest came only hours after US/China trade talks finished, it's also unusual in that it's an individual rather than the company being taken to court.

She's also the CFO of the world's 2nd biggest smartphone manufacturer that just overtook Apple. Decide for yourself.

If this is true, it really sheds light on this because it would indicate the arrest was political.

Given the situation, I actually doubt it. I don't think this is Trump et. al. throwing a curve ball, I think this is the Feds just doing their job with bad timing.

At the same moment the President is sitting down with Xi discussing trade government agents are making moves to arrest an incredibly high profile Chinese figure and everyone seems to think it's a coincidence?

China has an extensive history of politically motivated trials when there is foreign relation disputes between countries. They barely hide it. What's interesting here is the US doing the same thing back to them.

I don't believe the US is doing it, essentially I'm doubting the specific facts you presented i.e. a warrant since Aug but no arrest until now, for political reasons.

One of the reasons I doubt this is because Trump does not control or direct these orgs - they are not highly politicized.

And also ... why would the US create some kind of warrant/indictment to not have her grabbed?

Maybe you are right, but I actually don't think any of it makes sense. Trump gains nothing by having someone nabbed like that.

Chinese nabbing of Canadians I do however think is political.

Wasn’t China going to buy a ton of Canadian soybeans since they were avoiding US ones?

Recent news says China is starting to buy US soybeans now. If this was an American plan, it was brilliant.

Nobody played Canada. There is an extradition treaty which specifies when one country may arrest suspects in the other country.

Rule of law.

Neither popular opinion nor pressure from government executives supersede the law. If the law is thought to be wrong, then a challenge may be taken to the courts.

When will China's pleistocene concept of law catch up to the 21st century?

That's not how it works, Canada has refused numerous extradition requests from the US.