New diplomatic crisis between Ottawa and Beijing. Canada announced Monday the expulsion of a Chinese diplomat accused of attempting to intimidate a Canadian lawmaker. In retaliation, China announced this Tuesday, May 9, that it would expel the Canadian consul in Shanghai. Crossed announcements that represent the latest episode in relations between the two countries, which have deteriorated significantly over the past five years.

• Revelations about Chinese interference in Canada

The crisis begins on Monday, January 1st^um In May, the Globe and Mail newspaper published a scathing report saying the government had ignored Beijing’s interference in Canadian affairs. In its pages, the daily claims that Chinese intelligence planned to target Canadian MP Michael Chong and his relatives because they voted in February 2021 for a motion that equates China’s treatment reserved for the Uyghur minority “a genocide”.

It was “Certainly to make an example of this MP and to dissuade other MPs from taking hostile positions.” to China, according to a document from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS). The affair sparked an outcry, with opposition MPs demanding that Justin Trudeau’s government accept responsibility.

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• Chinese ambassador summoned, diplomat expelled

Government of Canada response on Thursday, May 4: “My deputy minister is meeting with the Chinese ambassador, we have summoned him”explains Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly to a parliamentary committee. “We are examining various options, including expelling diplomats.”adds the head of Canadian diplomacy.

The next day, China counterattacks. “Canada baselessly slanders and defames the normal operations of Chinese embassies and consulates in Canada.”regrets a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry. “China is extremely dissatisfied with this and firmly rejects it”she emphasizes, assuring that the Chinese ambassador did so “reported to Canadian Foreign Ministry official.” of that “strong protests”.

Facing insufficient disapproval, Canada announced on Monday, May 8, the expulsion of a Chinese diplomat. “Canada has decided to declare Mr. Zhao Wei persona non grata.”states the Foreign Minister. “We will not tolerate any form of foreign interference in our internal affairs. Diplomats in Canada have been warned that if they engage in such behavior they will be sent home.”she added in a press release.

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• China announces expulsion of Canadian consul

After he declared on Monday that Canada “sabotaged” As bilateral relations deteriorated, it didn’t take long for Beijing to announce retaliatory measures. “China decides to declare Jennifer Lynn Lalonde, Consul at the Canadian Consulate General in Shanghai, persona non grata”the Foreign Ministry in Beijing said in a statement on Tuesday, adding that this was the case “was asked to leave China before May 13th”.

An answer that perhaps doesn’t stop there: “China reserves the right to take further measures” of retaliation, the document adds. Speaking to the press, a Chinese diplomatic spokesman called on Canada to stop this “Unjustified provocations”Warning that China would take “Decisive and energetic measures” if the country “Didn’t listen to that advice”.

“We won’t allow ourselves to be intimidated”replied Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a few hours after the Chinese announcement. “We have decided that we need to send a very clear message: we will not accept foreign interference and will not be intimidated whatever decisions they make next.”the leader responded after China called on Canada to stop it “Unjustified provocations”.

• Relations have deteriorated significantly since 2018

Tensions between the two countries are not new. This follows the arrest of an executive from Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei by Canadian authorities in 2018 and the detention of two Canadian nationals by China 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.

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There is also strong criticism from Ottawa about alleged human rights violations by China, with Canadian MPs even passing a motion in 2021 denouncing such violations “Genocide” Uighurs. Then the Canadian government’s announcement in May 2022 that it would ban Chinese telecommunications giants Huawei and ZTE from expanding their 5G networks. A climate of distrust that emerged at the G20 summit in Indonesia last November. Footage captured by reporters showed Chinese President Xi Jinping warmly but firmly rebuking Justin Trudeau after details of a meeting between the two men the previous day were allegedly leaked to the press.