AVA - Canada expelled Chinese diplomat over alleged interference

Canada expelled a Chinese diplomat after cabinet members learned that he allegedly ordered authorities in Hong Kong to monitor and possibly intimidate the relatives of a Conservative lawmaker critical of Beijing’s treatment of the Uyghur Muslim minority.

Afghan Voice Agency (AVA)_Monitoring, Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly said to media that Zhao Wei of China’s consulate-general’s office in Toronto was declared “persona non grata.” A Canadian official said Mr. Zhao now has five days to leave the country.

“We will not tolerate any form of foreign interference in our internal affairs,” Ms. Joly said.

China’s embassy in Ottawa said in a statement the expulsion was “based on rumors of the so-called China interference hyped up by some politicians and media.” The embassy said it condemns the expulsion, has lodged a formal protest and plans to introduce retaliatory measures.

China and Canada have traded barbs since 2018 when Canada arrested a senior executive of China’s Huawei Technologies Co. on behalf of the U.S., an event followed by the imprisonment of two Canadian men in China.