On Tuesday, China expelled a Canadian diplomat in retaliation for Canada expelling a Chinese consular employee. Alleging that the Chinese employee had threatened a Canadian legislator and his family.
The Foreign Ministry stated that China is taking “retaliatory action” in response to Canada’s unethical action, which it “strongly opposes.”
China asked Jennifer Lynn Lalonde, a Canadian senior diplomat in Shanghai, to leave by May 13. And mentioned that China “reserves the right to take further actions in response.”
The expulsion order from China could not be immediately commented upon by the Canadian Embassy in Beijing.
Justin Trudeau expelled a Chinese Diplomat
Earlier on Tuesday, Canada announced that the government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expelling a Chinese diplomat. According to Canada’s intelligence agency, He has part in a conspiracy to intimidate an opposition lawmaker and his relatives in Hong Kong.
China took control of the former British colony in 1997, and in recent years it has effectively violated a 50-year agreement. To protect Hong Kong’s unique political and civil rights by dismantling its democratic institutions and free press. China routinely uses familial threats to intimidate critics in the Chinese diaspora. Especially those from minority groups.
A senior Canadian government official announced that Toronto-based diplomat Zhao Wei must leave the country within five days. It was initially unclear whether Zhao was still in Canada.
In a statement, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly declared that Canada had declared Zhao “persona non grata”. Emphasized that Canada would “not tolerate any form of foreign interference in our internal affairs.”
She states, “We have warned diplomats in Canada that if they engage in this type of behavior, they will be sent home.”
According to Canada’s intelligence service, opposition Conservative lawmaker Michael Chong and his Hong Kong relatives were targeted in 2021 after criticizing Beijing’s human rights record. The Canadian intelligence agency has not disclosed any specific details publicly.