Zhao WeiChinese diplomat in TorontoAnd jennifer lynn lalondeconsul of Canada to ShanghaiThey have five days to pack their bags and return to their respective countries. The expulsion of the diplomats marks a new abyss in the bilateral relations between Canada and Chinapunished for years by repeated arrests and a irremediable mistrust.

The latest crisis originated in information from the Canadian newspaper ‘Globe and Mail‘ which, citing intelligence sources, accuses Zhao of “harassing” the Conservative MP, michael chong. This Canadian politician is known for his belligerence against China and for being the catalyst for the parliamentary proposal outlining the campaign against Uyghur ethnicity in the western province of xinjiang. The Canadian outlet claims that Zhao allegedly helped gather information about Chong’s relatives by hong kong and “lead by example” to discourage criticism of beijing.

Mutual expulsion of diplomats

The information created a storm that pushed the Foreign Affairs Office of Canada clarify last week to chinese ambassador to canada that he would no longer tolerate any interference in domestic politics. For the conservative opposition, very critical of the so-called government lukewarmness, it was insufficient. Three days later, last Monday, Ottawa declared”persona non grata” to Zhao and ordered him to leave the country. All that remained was to find out who from the vast canadian diplomatic corps Beijing would choose this morning. was the Consul Jennifer Lynn Lalonde.

Besides, China He said he reserved the right to “take further action” in response to the previous “irrational” and “unscrupulous” expulsion of his diplomat which violated “the most basic principles of international relations”. Last week, he called it a “slander and defamation” accusations on Zhao and today the The Chinese Embassy he spoke of “ideological bias and political manipulation”.

the rioters relations with China have been part of Canadian public and political debate in recent years. About the Prime Minister Justin Trudeaustones rained down for their indolence in the face of the revelations of their spy services, and his promise which he discovered by the press convinced few. Trudeau blamed the agency for not sending him the report and ordered him to share any threats with Parliament from now on. “Very little, too late,” said Chong, the allegedly bullied lawmaker, who said Zhao should have been expelled “many years ago.” According to him, this passivity has transformed Canada”in something akin to a playground for foreign interference and threats.” “I hope this sends a clear message to authoritarian states that these types of activities are totally incompatible with the exercise of diplomacy in this country,” he continued.

irremediable crisis

THE Sino-Canadian Bilateral Relations were irretrievably ruined in 2018 by the huawei case, in full offensive of the former American president donald trump against the chinese technology. Canada found itself in the crossfire of the two superpowers when Washington accused the company’s heiress and top executive, meng wanzhoufor violating the embargo on Iran and demanded his arrest from his northern neighbours.

Chinese laments over the political nature of the process were not implausible considering that Trump later clarified that a deal in the trade war would oil the happy ending. The slaps, in any case, were taken by Canada. two of its nationals, Michael Spavor And michael kovrig, they were arrested in China on torrid espionage charges and spent nearly three years behind bars.

The distrust was underlined in a scene during the last G20 Summit in Bali. Chinese President Xi Jinping scolded Trudeau in front of the cameras for disclosing to the media the details of the conversation held the day before.