Canada considers expelling Chinese diplomats

Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly (Photo: AP).

Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly announced on May 4 that she had summoned Chinese Ambassador to Ottawa Cong Peiwu to protest efforts to interfere in the country's internal affairs.

“We will not tolerate any form of foreign interference,” Ms Joly said, adding that “all options are on the table.”

Foreign Minister Joly said Canada is "considering various options, including expelling the diplomat ."

The move comes as Canada is considering expelling a Chinese diplomat from its Toronto consulate who is accused of threatening Canadian MP Michael Chong and his family over his critical views of China.

Foreign Minister Joly said the harassment of MP Chong was "completely unacceptable".

Ambassador Cong has voiced "strong opposition" to Canada's consideration of expelling a Chinese diplomat.

"China firmly urges the Canadian side to immediately stop this action," Cong said in a statement posted on the Chinese embassy's website, warning Canada "not to go further down the wrong and dangerous path."

Tensions between Canada and China escalated in late 2018 when Canadian police arrested Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou at the request of the United States. Beijing later arrested two Canadians on espionage charges. All three were released in 2021.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in March that he would appoint an independent special investigator to look into allegations of Chinese election interference, and would also launch a separate investigation into foreign election interference in general.

Canadian media cited anonymous intelligence sources saying that China appears to have moved to interfere in the North American country's elections in 2019 and 2021.

China denies any interference, saying it has no interest in Canada's internal affairs.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/canada-can-nhac-truc-xuat-nha-ngoai-giao-trung-quoc-20230505102742985.htm