Canadian diplomat 'persona non grata' in China as row escalates

China has asked one of Canada's envoys in Shanghai to leave the country by Saturday, in retaliation for Ottawa's expulsion of a Chinese diplomat accused of aiding China's intelligence agency to target a Canadian lawmaker and his family with sanctions.

"In response to Canada's unreasonable actions, China has decided to take reciprocal countermeasures," the Chinese foreign ministry said on Tuesday, a day after Justin Trudeau's government expelled Toronto-based Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei.

Jennifer Lynn Lalonde, who works at the consulate general of Canada in Shanghai, was listed as an "unwelcome person" on Tuesday and asked to leave China before May 13.

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Hours later, Beijing doubled down and declared Lalonde "persona non grata" as a "reciprocal countermeasure" to Canada's "unscrupulous move". Zhao's expulsion was "based on lies" and would never be accepted by China, said foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin.

"This is China's move to protect its legitimate rights and interests, and is perfectly justified and necessary," Wang said, during the regular press briefing.

Wang urged Ottawa to "immediately stop unreasonable provocations", reiterating the Chinese embassy's earlier comments that Canada would "bear all the consequences" of Zhao's expulsion.

A newspaper report that Canadian MP Michael Chong was targeted by China's state security ministry has sparked tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions. Photo: Reuters alt=A newspaper report that Canadian MP Michael Chong was targeted by China's state security ministry has sparked tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions. Photo: Reuters>

"China is unwavering in its determination to safeguard its own interests ... If the Canadian side does not listen to the advice and acts recklessly, China will fight back resolutely and forcefully," Wang said.

He reiterated that the accusations against Zhao were "groundless" and "fabricated with ulterior motives".

Zhao was evicted from Canada following a Globe and Mail report last week claiming that he was involved in a Chinese Ministry of State Security effort to get information on Conservative lawmaker Michael Chong and his family in Hong Kong.

"Canada has decided to declare persona non grata Mr. Zhao Wei," said Melanie Joly, Canada's foreign minister. "I have been clear: We will not tolerate any form of foreign interference in our internal affairs."

Chong - who represents the Wellington-Halton Hills district in Ontario - and his relatives were allegedly targeted with sanctions because of his support for a parliamentary motion in 2021 that described Beijing's policies in Xinjiang as "genocide".

Beijing has rejected all accusations of human rights violations in the region.

The Globe and Mail cited a Canadian intelligence report, which Trudeau has said he was not told about because the matter was "not concerning enough".

Alongside other opposition lawmakers, Chong has criticised Trudeau's government for being too slow to act and the Canadian leader has since ordered the Canadian Security Intelligence Service to immediately inform lawmakers of any threats against them, regardless of whether they are considered credible.

China's ambassador to Ottawa Cong Peiwu was summoned by Joly on Thursday as the row escalated . The Chinese embassy followed up with a statement calling the accusations "totally groundless" and "political manipulation driven by ideological bias".

The operations of Chinese diplomatic and consular officials are in line with relevant agreements and international conventions, and "must not be smeared", the statement said.

The embassy warned soon after Zhao's eviction that "resolute countermeasures" would be taken and "all consequences arising therefrom shall be borne by the Canadian side".

"This has seriously violated international law, basic norms governing international relations and the related bilateral agreements, and sabotaged the China-Canada relations," the embassy statement read.

Trudeau in March accused China of meddling in Canadian elections in 2019 and 2021. He also said Iran and Russia were "interfering" in Canadian society, from citizens and institutions to businesses and research facilities.

At the time, Joly said Canada had not expelled any Chinese diplomats and that it was hard to do so without compelling evidence of foreign interference.

The expulsion of two Chinese officials from the neighbouring United States in 2019 - at the height of a bruising trade war - marked the first time that Chinese diplomats were suspected of espionage on US soil in more than 30 years.

The pair were accused of spying after driving on to a sensitive military base in Virginia, according to the New York Times.

This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright ? 2023 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

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