“Canada-China Diplomatic Row: Beijing Expels Diplomat as Tensions Rise”

Beijing –

Relationship between China and Canada heats up. The two countries reciprocated by expelling diplomats.

Reported AFP, Tuesday (9/5/2023), the Government of Canada expelled a Chinese diplomat over alleged intimidation of a lawmaker who was critical of Beijing. Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs (Menlu) Melanie Joly said the Chinese diplomat had been assigned ‘persona non grata’.

He said Ottawa “will not tolerate any form of foreign interference in our internal affairs.”

“We remain steadfast in our determination that defending democracy is paramount,” Joly said in a statement.

He said foreign diplomats in Canada “had been warned that if they engaged in this kind of behavior they would be sent home”. The move soured already strained relations between China and Canada.

Beijing itself accuses Ottawa of “sabotaging” relations between the two countries. China has threatened to take firm countermeasures against Canada.

“The Chinese side will take firm retaliatory measures and all the consequences arising from it will be borne by the Canadian side,” said the statement of the Chinese Embassy in Canada.

Authority China called on Canada to take a ‘step back from the abyss’. Beijing also said it had filed a formal protest note against the violation of international law and diplomatic norms regarding the expulsion of the diplomat.

China has also accused Canada of “deliberately damaging relations” with its second largest trading partner. According to sources familiar with the matter, an official at the Chinese Consulate in Toronto, Zhao Wei, was at the center of the diplomatic row. Zhao was asked to leave Canada immediately within five days.

Read more on the next page.

Also watch ‘When Canada Also Bans TikTok’:

(haf/haf)