In response to revelations that a Conservative MP and his family in Hong Kong have been threatened by China, Ottawa summoned the Chinese ambassador to brief him on Thursday. And the Canadian government is examining “all options,” including expelling the Chinese diplomat who allegedly orchestrated the whole thing.

“I take all this very seriously,” stressed Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly to Conservative MP Michael Chong, who would be the target of these efforts from Beijing.

Deputy Secretary of State David Morrison summoned Ambassador Cong Peiwu on Thursday, Minister Joly told Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee. The Ambassador has been briefed by Ottawa on more than one occasion, notably to previously speak about foreign electoral interference, “Chinese police stations” on Canadian soil and the mysterious Chinese balloon that flew over Canadian territory this winter.

The Globe and the Mail announced on Monday that Conservative MP Michael Chong and members of his family in Hong Kong have been the target of “specific gestures” and “possible sanctions” from the People’s Republic of China (PRC), unhappy that Mr Chong has filed a motion to indict China had to commit genocide against Uyghurs and other Turkish Muslims.

A purposeful diplomat

Visibly emotional, Mr. Chong bombarded the minister with questions, accusing her of not expelling Toronto Consulate-based diplomat Zhao Wei, who, according to classified documents cited by THE, was involved in the campaign against him globe and mail.

“We are in the process of assessing the consequences of expelling diplomats,” Minister Joly said.

Canada’s economic, consular and diplomatic interests would be adversely affected, she said. The detention of Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor in China for nearly three years in retaliation showed “that China obviously will take action,” Frau argued.^Me Pretty. “It’s about your case, but also about the interests of the country,” she added during a heated exchange with MP Chong.

The latter dismissed the minister’s statements and denounced the fact that no diplomat from the Chinese regime had been expelled since allegations of Chinese foreign interference made headlines.

“This diplomat has more rights and more immunities than the Canadians at this table, allowing him to roam and carry out threats and foreign interference activities,” Chong joked.

However, he recalled that the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations provides that a state can appoint a diplomat “at any time and without justifying its decision”. unwanted person. “It is inexplicable that this diplomat was not asked to leave the country,” lamented Michael Chong, getting angry at the minister during their exchange, which lasted just over five minutes.

Minister Joly insisted her government would make a decision “in the best interests of Canadians and our democracy” and assured the MP that “all options are on the table”.

Like Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the minister said she learned Monday morning from reading the newspapers that Mr Chong had become a target of the Chinese communist regime.

Mr Trudeau announced on Wednesday that he had made it clear to Canada’s Security Intelligence Agency (CSIS) that going forward the agency must inform the government if an MP or his family is being targeted. And this even if CSIS believes that this information is not serious enough to justify action.

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