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Canadian international minister says Zhao Wei declared ‘persona non grata’ after alleged intimidation of opposition lawmaker.
Canada is expelling a Chinese language diplomat after Zhao Wei was accused of being concerned in a marketing campaign to intimidate a Canadian opposition legislator crucial of Beijing.
In a press release on Monday, Overseas Minister Melanie Joly mentioned the Canadian authorities has designated Zhao, a diplomat primarily based in Toronto, “persona non grata”.
“I’ve been clear: we is not going to tolerate any type of international interference in our inside affairs. Diplomats in Canada have been warned that in the event that they have interaction in this kind of behaviour, they are going to be despatched dwelling,” Joly mentioned.
The Chinese language authorities has rejected the allegations that it interfered in Canada’s inside affairs, saying final week that it has “no curiosity in any respect in doing so”.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s authorities has been beneath stress to take motion after the Globe and Mail newspaper reported earlier this month that China had sought details about any family of a Canadian legislator “who could also be positioned” inside its borders.
The transfer was possible a part of an effort to “make an instance of this MP and deter others” from taking anti-China positions, the newspaper mentioned, citing Canada’s spy company, the Canadian Safety Intelligence Service (CSIS).
Whereas the CSIS report didn’t title the lawmaker, the Globe mentioned a nationwide safety supply recognized the focused politician as Michael Chong, a member of the opposition Conservative Get together of Canada.
China sanctioned Chong in 2021 after he spearheaded a Canadian parliamentary movement condemning Beijing’s remedy of its Uighur Muslim minority as a “genocide” – a cost rejected by the Chinese language authorities for years.
The accusations this month have led to renewed tensions between Ottawa and Beijing. The 2 nations have had frosty relations for a number of years over a spread of points, together with human rights, commerce, and the arrests of Canadian and Chinese language residents.
Canada summoned the Chinese language ambassador to the nation on Friday over the newest allegations of intimidation towards Chong, stressing that it was mulling all essential measures to defend its sovereignty.
Mao Ning, a spokeswoman for the Chinese language Overseas Ministry, hit again by accusing the Canadian authorities of advancing a “groundless smear” towards its diplomatic and consular mission in Canada.
“A handful of Canadian politicians and media have overestimated a fabricated story of ‘China concentrating on a Canadian lawmaker’, which is nothing however a political stunt that grew out of ideological bias,” Mao mentioned throughout a information briefing final week.
“I wish to stress that the Chinese language diplomatic and consular personnel in Canada at all times abide by related worldwide conventions and carry out their duties in accordance with the regulation. The Chinese language facet will take essential measures to firmly safeguard its personal pursuits.”
Joly, Canada’s international minister, mentioned on Monday that call to blacklist Zhao got here “after cautious consideration of all components at play”.
“We stay agency in our resolve that defending our democracy is without doubt one of the utmost significance,” she mentioned.
It is a growing story. Extra updates to observe.
