Relations between China and Canada have intensified after the two countries expelled each other’s diplomats. Photo/Illustration
Canada expelled Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei on Monday after an intelligence report accused him of trying to target a Canadian lawmaker who criticized China’s treatment of the Uighur Muslim minority.
“We will not tolerate any form of foreign interference,” Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly said on Monday.
In response to what Canada called an unreasonable decision, China has asked Jennifer Lynn Lalonde, consul at the Canadian consulate in Shanghai, to leave China by May 13, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement. communicated.
“China reserves the right to respond further,” adds the statement cited by France 24Tuesday (9/5/2023).
Diplomatic tensions have intensified since the arrest of Huawei Technologies executive Meng Wanzhou in 2018 and Beijing’s arrest of two Canadians accused of espionage. All three were later released in 2021.
Last year, Beijing lifted a three-year ban on imports of canola, Canada’s largest crop, from trading companies Richardson International and Viterra. The restrictions followed Meng’s arrest, but China has cited concerns about the parasites. China is also a major importer of Canadian potash and wheat.
Canada’s spy agency, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), wrote a 2021 report on China’s influence in Canada that included information on potential threats against Conservative MP Michael Chong and his family.
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