Canada and China Engage in Diplomatic Dispute with Mutual Expulsions of Diplomats
The diplomatic dispute between Canada and China continues to escalate, with both sides engaging in a tit-for-tat exchange of expulsions of diplomats. On Tuesday, Beijing declared a Canadian diplomat as “persona non grata” in retaliation for Ottawa’s decision to expel a Chinese consular official over allegations of foreign interference. The expelled official, Zhao Wei, was accused of being involved in a plot to intimidate Conservative MP Michael Chong and his relatives in Hong Kong.
Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Melanie Joly, defended the decision to expel Zhao Wei, stating that it was made after careful consideration of all factors and in a serious manner. She also announced that the government would update its guidance to travellers if it perceives the risk to Canadians in China as rising higher than its current level, which asks Canadians to exercise a high degree of caution in China due to the risk of arbitrary enforcement of local laws.
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