China will expel Canadian Diplomat – Jennifer Lynn Lalonde, from the country’s Shanghai Consulate after Canada declared to expel the Chinese diplomat – Zhao Wei from Toronto’s Consulate
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China has said that it will expel a Canadian Diplomat – Jennifer Lynn Lalonde, from the country’s Shanghai Consulate as a reciprocal countermeasure, after Canada declared to expel the Chinese diplomat – Zhao Wei from Toronto’s Consulate.
Canada suspended Zhao Wei as “persona non grata” over alleged involvement in a campaign to intimidate a Canadian legislator critical of Beijing.
Speaking on the occasion, the Foreign Minister of Canada – Melanie Joly said, “I have been clear: we will not tolerate any form of foreign interference in our internal affairs. Diplomats in Canada have been warned that if they engage in this type of behaviour, they will be sent home.”
A Statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China read, “As a reciprocal countermeasure in reaction to Canada’s unscrupulous move, China decides to declare Jennifer Lynn Lalonde, consul of the Consulate General of Canada in Shanghai persona non grata.”
The trouble began in April 2023 when Canada’s leading newspaper – The Globe and Mail reported that Beijing had sought information about a Canadian legislator’s relatives who may be in China in a likely effort to make an example of this MP by targeting his next of kin in order to deter others in Canada from taking positions against the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
The newspaper cited a report by Canada’s spy agency – Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS). The report did not name the legislator, but the Globe said a national security source identified the politician as Michael Chong, a member of the opposition Conservative Party of Canada. A Chinese official at China’s consulate in Toronto was said to be involved in the intrigue. China sanctioned Chong in 2021 after he spearheaded a Canadian parliamentary motion condemning Beijing’s treatment of its Uighur Muslim minority as a genocide.
The China-Canada relationship has been cold for several years, especially after Canadian authorities detained Huawei Technologies Executive – Meng Wanzhou in 2018 on a US arrest warrant. China then arrested two Canadians on spying charges. The standoff ended when all three people were released in 2021, but relations have remained sour over several points of contention, including human rights and trade.
Besides, the Prime Minister of Canada – Justin Trudeau has also faced growing calls in recent months to investigate allegations that the Chinese Government has interfered in the country’s elections and is operating covert “police stations” in Canada.
