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Canada announced on Monday the expulsion of a Chinese diplomat whom it accuses of wanting to intimidate a Canadian lawmaker and his family because of their criticism of Beijingwhich led to a new diplomatic dispute.
“We will not tolerate any form of foreign interference in our internal affairs.”, said in a statement the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Melanie Jolly and declared “ungrateful person” to the Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei.
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“We remain steadfast in our determination that defending our democracy is of the utmost importance.”, Joly added, noting that diplomats on Canadian soil “have been warned that if they engage in such conduct, they will be sent home”, he added.
The expulsion occurs after it was revealed that the conservative deputy michael chong and his family, who lives in Hong Kongthey would have received pressure for questioning the Chinese regime.
The Globe and Mail newspaper said last week that the intelligence agency of China had planned to sanction Chong and his relatives in Hong Kong for voting in February 2021 on a motion condemning Beijing’s actions in the Hong Kong region. xinjiang as genocide against the Uyghur minority.
The goal was “surely give this deputy a lesson and discourage other deputies from adopting anti-Chinese positions”, noted the report, which cited classified documents and an anonymous security source.
The decision further aggravates already strained Sino-Canadian relations with the “strong condemnation“from China to the expulsion of its official that it says is based on accusations”baseless” and promises retaliation.
In a statement on the website of his embassy in Ottawa, China says it has filed an official protest over violations of international law and diplomatic rules. He also accuses Canada of “deliberately sabotaging relationships” with its second largest trading partner.
“The Chinese side will take firm countermeasures, and all consequences arising from this will be borne by the Canadian side.”, the embassy warned.
According to a source close to the case, Zhao Wei, an official at the Chinese consulate in China, was asked to leave the country within five days. Toronto.
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game risks
Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeaufaces mounting pressure to take a hard line on Beijing following revelations that it tried to influence Canada’s 2019 and 2021 elections, allegations China also rejected.
His latest statements were used by his critics to accuse him of a lack of reaction to foreign interference.
“There was real political risk to the Trudeau government on this issue, which is playing a risky game in making a show of force in this way.”, he opined Genevieve Tellierprofessor of politics at the University of Ottawa.
The relationships between Beijing and Ottawa have been bitter since 2018 over the arrest in Canada of a senior technology executive Huawei and the detention of two Canadians in China as an alleged response.
All three were released, but Beijing has continued to criticize Ottawa for siding with US China policy, and Canadian officials often accuse China of interference.
China criticized on Friday what it considered “unfounded slander and defamation” by Canada after Ottawa summoned the Chinese ambassador yesterday to discuss Beijing’s accusations of intimidation of Chong.
He Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs insisted that the scandal had been “exaggerated by some Canadian politicians and media”.
For his part, Chong told reporters in Ottawa on Monday that “we have known for years that the CPR (People’s Republic of China) uses its accredited diplomats here in Canada to attack Canadians and their families”.
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“Canada has become a theater of foreign interference”, including the harassment of communities in other countries, Chong added.
Roromme Chantala China expert from the School of Advanced Public Studies in Moncton told AFP that Canada can expect retaliation as “the expulsion of some, if not several of its diplomats”.
Beijing, in additionit can also retaliate financially as a way of sending a message to other countries that are talking about interference”, added the expert.
Source: Elcomercio
I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.
