A Canadian intelligence report accuses a Toronto-based Chinese diplomat identified as Mr. Wei Zhao of being involved in a harassment campaign against Michael Chong and his family—a Canadian lawmaker whose family is from Hong Kong.
However, 51-year-old Chong has criticized the federal government for taking no action after having learned about these threats against him 2 years ago.
It can be noted that Michael Chong is known to be an outspoken critic of Beijing.
To recall, he also led a 2021 effort to hold a parliamentary vote to recognize China’s treatment of the Uyghur population as genocide.
Currently, pressure is mounting on Justin Trudeau to launch a public inquiry into Beijing’s alleged attempts to meddle in Canada’s Domestic Political Affairs.
Information of the said foreign interference never made it to me—Trudeau
But the prime minister has blamed the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) saying he was not briefed on the said allegations.
“As I said on Wednesday to Michael Chong and to Canadians, information on, that was released on Monday through to the media never made it to me, to my office, or to the minister at the time. Going forward, such information would absolutely have to be raised to the highest political levels,” said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Canada.
Canadian gov’t summons Chinese Ambassador Cong Peiwu
On Thursday, Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly told a parliamentary committee that her office had summoned Chinese Ambassador Cong Peiwu to express frustration over the said CSIS reports, calling it ‘completely unacceptable’.
Chong: Wei Zhao should be declared persona non grata
However, Mr Chong is strongly dissatisfied with the Canadian government’s response in dealing with the matter and he seeks to have Mr Wei Zhao expelled from Canada.
“But why is this diplomat still here? Article 9 of the Vienna Convention is clear. Article 9 says that the government can declare a diplomat persona non grata for no reason. The article is clear so why is this diplomat still here? A diplomat who has more rights and immunities than the Canadians around this table to go around and conduct his foreign interference threat activities. He has diplomatic immunity. He cannot be criminally prosecuted.”
“You are… you have given accreditation to a diplomat here who is using his diplomatic immunity to target not just me and my family but other members of parliament. So why do you minister, continue to allow this diplomat to be accredited in this country on Canadian soil? That is the question. And you haven’t answered the question,” said Michael Chong, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs of Canada.
In a tense exchange, Melanie Joly, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs responded
Canadian gov’t carefully considers consequences before making diplomatic expulsions
“So, first and foremost, what we’re doing right now as a government is we’re assessing the consequences that we’ll be facing in case of a diplomatic expulsion because there will be consequences. I think it’s important that Canadians know what we’ve learned from the 2 Michael experience is that of course China and the PRC will take action. These interests including economic interest, consular interest and also diplomatic interest will be affected interrupted no, Michael, I just want to finish my answer because this is very important. This is about you but it’s about also the interest of the country. So, as we are assessing the interests and I know that we are under pressure to go fast, we need to make sure as well that we protect our democracy. And that is why we will take action in light of the facts that are being presented regarding your case and you know, any MP that could targeted. So that’s why my deputy minister right now is meeting with the Chinese ambassador and summoning him, and that’s why also we’re assessing different options including the expulsion of diplomats because it is important that we take a decision,” said Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada.
However, Mr. Chong strongly insisted that there is no greater interest to Canada than the protection, safety, and security of its own citizens on Canadian soil, adding that Mr. Wei Zhao should still be sent packing.
“Minister, just, with respect to interests— economic and otherwise—I can’t think of an interest more important to the Canadian state than the protection and the safety and the security of its own citizens here on Canadian soil. That trumps all other interests. And it is inexplicable that this diplomat hasn’t been told to leave the country already. And I would hope that the deputy ministers informing the ambassador that this individual Mr Wei Zhou should be on the first plane out or declared persona non grata, and I think that is the only course of action here because if we do not take that course of action, minister, we are basically putting up a giant billboard for all authoritarian states around the world that says, we are open for foreign interference threat activities on Canadian soil, targeting Canadian citizens and you can conduct these activities with zero consequences. And that’s why this individual needs to be sent packing,” said Michael Chong, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs of Canada
China firmly opposes Canada’s ‘groundless slander’
On the other hand, this is what China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had to say in response.
“Certain Canadian politicians and media, based on false reports, hyped up the so-called ‘China’s interference in Canada’s internal affairs’ and falsely claimed that relevant Chinese consular officials in Canada had made so-called ‘threats’ against a Canadian MP, is totally a nonsense, and it is a ridiculous political farce based on ideological bias.”
“China firmly opposes the Canadian side’s groundless slander and its smears against the normal duty of the Chinese diplomatic and consular mission in Canada. The Chinese Ambassador to Canada has made clear its solemn position and lodged a strong protest with the official of the Canadian Foreign Ministry. The head of the Department of North American and Oceanian Affairs of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs also lodged solemn representations with the Canadian Ambassador to China,” said Mao Ning, Spokeswoman China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
After being summoned, China’s Ambassador to Canada Cong Peiwu said on Thursday that he is strongly protesting against the threat to expel a Chinese diplomat because of rumors of the so-called China interference, adding that China strongly urges the Canadian side to immediately stop this self-directed political farce and that Canada should not go further down the wrong and dangerous path.
PM Trudeau speaks with reporters at Liberal National Convention—on May 5, 2023.
