Canada will not be intimidated by the expulsion of a Canadian consul by Chinaafter Ottawa ousted a Chinese diplomat this week accused of attacking a lawmaker critical of Beijing, the prime minister said on Tuesday. Justin Trudeau.

“We decided that we had to move forward responsibly to send a very clear message that we will not accept foreign interference and that whatever next decisions they make, we will not be intimidated,” Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa, after Beijing accused his government of trying to “sabotage“bilateral relations.

Canada announced Monday the expulsion of a Chinese diplomat, Zhao Wei, from its consulate in Toronto, plunging the two nations into a new diplomatic conflict after years of icy relations.

A few hours later, China retaliates by expelling the Canadian consul in Shanghai, jennifer lalondeaccusing Canadian politicians and media of exaggerate the accusations foreign interference in Ottawa affairs.

Beijing called him “reciprocal countermeasure in response to Canada’s unscrupulous decision. »

“Declaring a foreign diplomat persona non grata is an important and serious step,” Trudeau acknowledged, saying it “demonstrates the firmness” of Canada’s resolve.

“We will continue to do whatever is necessary to protect Canadians from foreign interference or fear,” he added.

The Canadian action was taken following allegations that Chinese intelligence services they had planned to sanction the deputy michael chong and their relatives in Hong Kong for sponsoring a motion condemning Beijing’s conduct in the Hong Kong region. xinjiang like genocide.

Zhao Wei would have played a role in the plot.

Relations between Beijing and Ottawa have been strained since Canada’s 2018 arrest of a senior Huawei executive and the detention of two Canadian citizens in China in apparent retaliation.

All three were released, but Beijing continued to lash out at Ottawa for siding with Washington’s China policy, while Canadian officials routinely accused China of interference.

Tensions have erupted again in recent months.as Trudeau faces growing pressure to take a hard line on China following revelations that he tried to influence the 2019 and 2021 Canadian elections in favor of his party.

Chinese diplomatic spokesman Wang Wen Bincalled on Canada to stop “unwarranted provocations” and warned that Beijing will take “firm and forceful action” if Ottawa disregards the advice.

Regarding reports of alleged intimidation against Chong, China on Friday criticized what it considered “baseless slander and libelby Canada, after Ottawa summoned the Chinese ambassador the day before to discuss the matter.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said the scandal was “exaggerated by some Canadian politicians and media”.

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