Canada announced on Monday, May 8, the expulsion of a Chinese diplomat, now identified as a “unwanted person» in the country because Ottawa was accused of trying to intimidate a Canadian lawmaker who is hostile to Beijing.

“Canada has decided to declare Mr. Zhao Wei persona non grata», said Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly. “We will not tolerate any external interference in our internal affairs. Diplomats in Canada have been warned that such behavior will result in them being sent home” she added in a press release.

A decision that is likely to put even further strain on the already very complicated bilateral relations between the two countries: In this affair, China complained on Friday that “Defamation” And “slander» from Canada after being summoned by its ambassador. “This decision was made with careful consideration of all factors involved», Minister Mélanie Joly clearly specified and referred to the importance of “Defense of democracy» Canadian.

interference

Relations between Beijing and Ottawa have been particularly strained since Canadian authorities arrested an executive from Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei in 2018 and China detained two Canadian nationals in retaliation. Although all three have since been released, tensions continued. Beijing criticized Ottawa for its alignment with Washington's China policy, and Canadian authorities regularly accused China of interference.

The latest case uncovered by the press concerns Canadian Conservative MP Michael Chong and his family, who are said to have been under Chinese pressure due to the MP's criticism of Beijing, particularly on the Uyghur issue. Zhao Wei, an official at the Chinese consulate in Toronto, is accused of being at the center of this affair.

“Protect your interests”

“Canada baselessly slanders and defames the normal operations of Chinese embassies and consulates in Canada», complained Mao Ning, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, to the press on Friday. “I would like to emphasize that Chinese diplomatic and consular personnel in Canada have always respected international conventions and discharged their duties in accordance with the law.“, she added, specifying that China would “take”to take the necessary measures to protect its interests“.

The Chinese embassy in Canada reacted in the evening with the assessment that Canada “sabotaged” Relations between the two countries. “China will take decisive countermeasures and all resulting consequences will be borne by Canada”the Chinese Embassy in Canada said in a press release on Monday, May 8.

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