Canada on Monday announced the expulsion of a Chinese diplomat accused of trying to intimidate a Canadian lawmaker and his family following criticism by the parliamentarian beijing.

Canada has decided to declare Mr. Zhao Wei“said Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly in a press release.

“I was clear: We will not tolerate any form of foreign interference in our internal affairs.” Diplomats in Canada have been warned that if they engage in this type of behavior, they will be sent home. »

The eviction took place after a protest led by parliamentarian michael chong by a damning report published last week by the Globe and Mail who claimed that Ottawa had turned a blind eye to Beijing’s interference in Canadian affairs.

The newspaper claimed that China’s intelligence agency planned to sanction Chong and his relatives in Hong Kong for voting in February 2021 for a motion condemning Beijing’s conduct in the Xinjiang region as genocide.

The report cites a Canadian Security Intelligence Service document, which uses the acronym People’s Republic of China, that the target was “Almost certainly by setting an example with this MP and dissuading others from taking anti-PRC positions.”

Zhao Wei, a diplomat from the Chinese consulate in Toronto, would be implicated.

After the Chinese ambassador was summoned last week over the allegations, Beijing on Friday denounced what it called “baseless slander and libel” by Canada.

China’s foreign ministry denied any wrongdoing, insisting the scandal had been “exaggerated by some Canadian politicians and media”.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has faced growing pressure to take a hard line on Beijing following revelations he tried to influence Canada’s 2019 and 2021 elections, which China has also rejected.

The allegations have become the focus of parliamentary committee hearings and other investigations.

(With information from AFP)

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