- Canada is considering expelling a Chinese diplomat over alleged attempts to track and intimidate them
- Canada's foreign minister said that the incident was detailed in a 2021 intelligence report
- Joly raised the issue after Michael Chong raised a question about the Chinese diplomat
Canadian authorities are considering expelling a Chinese diplomat and pressuring Beijing over the individual's alleged attempt to track down and intimidate a Canadian lawmaker and his family.
On Thursday, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly revealed that a 2021 intelligence report noted that the Chinese diplomat was looking to track down the Canadian lawmaker's family in Hong Kong.
Canada Considering Expelling Chinese Diplomat
In a statement during a parliamentary committee meeting, Joly said that her deputy minister was already meeting with the Chinese ambassador and was summoning him. She noted that they had discussed various options, including the expulsion of diplomats.
The foreign minister's remarks were in response to a question raised by Michael Chong. He questioned why the minister continues to allow the Chinese diplomat to be accredited in the country, as per Reuters.
On Monday, Canada's Globe and Mail newspaper said that Beijing tried to acquire information regarding Chong and his family. Many believed this was an effort to "make an example" of him and discourage others from taking any positions that opposed the People's Republic of China (PRC). Still, the Chinese consulate in Toronto denied the report.
In a statement, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that he found out about the intelligence report from the newspaper. On Wednesday, he blamed the spy agency for not allowing him to review the matter beforehand.
But on Thursday, Chong revealed that Truduea's national security advisor informed him that the report had already been circulated to the Privy Council Office. It is the one that supported the prime minister and his Cabinet in 2021.
On the other hand, China's embassy in Ottawa did not release a statement about the situation or respond to requests for comments. According to CNN, in a statement, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that Beijing always opposes any country's alleged interference in other nations' internal affairs.
Alleged Attempt to Track, Intimidate Canadian Lawmaker
Joly added that they were concerned about potential Chinese retaliation, saying the PRC would most likely take action against their interests. She noted that the situation would affect economic, consumer, and diplomatic interests.
China allegedly targeted Chong over his remarks where he criticized Beijing over its treatment of the Uighur minority, calling actions against them a genocide. However, Chinese authorities denied the accusations and later sanctioned the Canadian lawmaker.
The lawmaker said that with his family being abroad, targeting such individuals to intimidate and coerce Canadians at home was considered a severe and national threat. Despite his stance on the matter, Trudeau said that the CSIS did not raise the issue to a higher level because it needed to be a significant enough concern.
The summoning of an ambassador is usually used as a diplomatic tool by one nation to express its anger over another country. The development comes as Canada has accused Beijing of previously trying to interfere in Canadian elections, said BBC.
