Following Ottawa's announcement that it was returning a Chinese diplomat accused of attempting to coerce a lawmaker, China said on Tuesday that it was removing Canada's consul in Shanghai.
After years of deteriorating relations, the expulsions have thrown the two countries into a new diplomatic dispute.
They come after an uproar in Canada over claims that Chinese intelligence sought to sanction MP Michael Chong and his relatives in Hong Kong for supporting a motion that referred to Beijing's actions in the Xinjiang province as genocide. Chong sponsored the motion.
In response, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said Toronto-based Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei — who allegedly played a role in the scheme — would have to leave the country.
She said, Canada would “not tolerate any form of foreign interference in our internal affairs.”
On Tuesday, China's foreign ministry denounced the decision to deport Zhao and announced that Jennifer Lynn Lalonde, the Canadian consul, had been given until May 13 to leave the country.
“As a reciprocal countermeasure in reaction to Canada’s unscrupulous move, China decides to declare Jennifer Lynn Lalonde, consul of the Consulate General of Canada in Shanghai persona non grata,” the ministry said in a statement.
And foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin urged Canada to stop “unreasonable provocations.”
After years of deteriorating relations, the expulsions have thrown the two countries into a new diplomatic dispute.
They come after an uproar in Canada over claims that Chinese intelligence sought to sanction MP Michael Chong and his relatives in Hong Kong for supporting a motion that referred to Beijing's actions in the Xinjiang province as genocide. Chong sponsored the motion.
In response, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said Toronto-based Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei — who allegedly played a role in the scheme — would have to leave the country.
She said, Canada would “not tolerate any form of foreign interference in our internal affairs.”
On Tuesday, China's foreign ministry denounced the decision to deport Zhao and announced that Jennifer Lynn Lalonde, the Canadian consul, had been given until May 13 to leave the country.
“As a reciprocal countermeasure in reaction to Canada’s unscrupulous move, China decides to declare Jennifer Lynn Lalonde, consul of the Consulate General of Canada in Shanghai persona non grata,” the ministry said in a statement.
And foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin urged Canada to stop “unreasonable provocations.”
