Ottawa : Canada has expelled a Chinese diplomat. This action has been taken after China was accused of threatening a Canadian MP and interfering in the country’s elections. Canada has declared Toronto-based diplomat Zhao Wei “persona non grata” (persona non grata), Foreign Minister Melanie Jolie said in a statement on Monday, according to CNN.
He said, “I am clear: We will not tolerate any form of foreign interference in our internal affairs. Diplomats in Canada have been warned that if they behave like this, they will be sent home.”
Monday’s action has been taken due to increasing public pressure on the government. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service found that an accredited Chinese diplomat in the country had targeted opposition MP Michael Chong and his relatives in China after he moved a motion condemning China for its treatment of the Uyghur Muslim minority group.
The intelligence service also reportedly said Beijing tried to influence the outcome of Canada’s federal elections in 2019 and 2021. The Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail was the first to reveal these things. Chong, who represents the Wellington-Halton Hills district in Ontario, has repeatedly called for Zhao’s ouster since media reports of the Chinese crackdown emerged.
In response to the expulsions, the Chinese embassy in Canada called the allegations of political interference “baseless” and warned of “consequences”. According to CNN, the embassy said in a statement late on Monday, “China strongly condemns and firmly opposes this. Canada has been answered in all seriousness. China will retaliate strongly and Canada will bear all consequences arising from this.”
The embassy said the move “deliberately undermines China-Canada relations”. The latest allegations come amid other intelligence reports leaked to Canadian media accusing China of attempting to interfere in Canadian elections, the BBC said. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in March announced an independent special envoy to investigate the claims of interference.
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