Canada expels Chinese diplomat

Toronto [Canada], May 9: Canada has expelled a Chinese diplomat who was accused of conspiring to intimidate a Chinese-born congressman and his relatives in Hong Kong.
Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly issued a statement on May 8 declaring a Chinese diplomat named Zhao Wei (Zhao Wei) in Toronto an "unwelcome person". Mr. Zhao was accused by Canadian intelligence agencies of being involved in a plot to threaten Canadian Conservative MP Michael Chong and his relatives in Hong Kong, according to The Canadian Press.
"We will not tolerate any foreign interference in our internal affairs. Diplomats in Canada have been warned that if they engage in such behavior, they will be sent home." , said Mrs. Joly.
The expulsion comes after the Globe and Mail recently reported that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) in 2021 received information that the Chinese government was trying to threaten Mr. Chong and his relatives in Hong Kong. The Canadian government has confirmed this information.
Mr. Chong was threatened after supporting a resolution regarding China's policy towards the Muslim Uighur minority . The Globe and Mail article said that Zhao had collected information about Chong and that China wanted to "use Chong as an example" to deter others from taking anti-Chinese views. Chong was frustrated and criticized Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal government, which should have made the decision to deport sooner.
Mr. Trudeau said he also learned about it through the press and criticized CSIS for not reporting to him. Prime Minister Trudeau described this as a serious incident and the decision to deport was carefully considered.
Last week, Foreign Minister Joly said Beijing could take countermeasures but now she thinks the expulsion is worth taking such a risk. "This decision has been made after careful consideration of all factors. We remain firmly in the position that protecting democracy is paramount," Ms. Joly said.
China has said it has never interfered in Canada's internal affairs and has no intention of doing so. China's consulate general in Toronto said the report about Mr Chong "has no factual basis and is completely baseless".
According to Reuters, the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa condemned Zhao's expulsion and officially protested Canada's move. "We will resolutely take countermeasures," a Chinese embassy spokesman said.
Relations between Canada and China have been strained for years despite Beijing being Ottawa's second-largest trading partner. Bilateral diplomatic tensions have escalated since Canada arrested Huawei Vice President MengWanzhou in 2018, then China arrested two Canadians on espionage charges. All three are released in 2021.
Source: ThanhNien Newspaper