a diplomatic conflict sum tension to the international stage, with China again as the protagonist. In the last 48 hours, a crossroads of actions and statements began between the two countries for the expulsion of diplomatic officials, amid harsh accusations for “interference in internal affairs.”
This Monday, it was Canada who kicked off the escalation, when his government confirmed the expulsion of Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei at the embassy in Ottawawhen accused of orchestrating a campaign of harassment against a deputy.
Canada and China in diplomatic crisis
Hours later, after China’s condemnation of this act, which it condemned for having “sabotaged” relations between the two countries, the Xi Jinping government decided to up the ante, since this Tuesday it expelled Canadian consul Jennifer Lynn from Shanghai lalonde.
“China decides to declare Jennifer Lynn Lalonde, consul at the Canadian Consulate General in Shanghai, persona non grata,” Beijing’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement. She added that she “was asked to leave China before May 13.”
The start of the fight was given by the Canadian deputy Michael Chong, who lives with his family in Hong Kong, after denouncing that they would have received pressure due to the legislator’s criticism of Beijing.
Canada Stocks
According to The Globe and Mail, last week China’s intelligence agency had planned to sanction Chong and his relatives in Hong Kong for voting in February 2021 on a motion condemning Beijing’s actions in the Xinjiang region as genocide against the Uyghur minority.
The objective was “certainly to give an example to this deputy and to dissuade other deputies from adopting anti-Chinese positions”, according to a document from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS).
The Chinese Embassy in Ottawa on Monday condemned the expulsion of Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei, accused of orchestrating a campaign of harassment against a deputy, for which it has considered that Canada has “sabotaged” relations between the two countries.
The spokesman for the diplomatic office in Canada has pointed out that this action has “seriously violated international law, the basic rules governing international relations and bilateral agreements, and has sabotaged China-Canada relations.”
Likewise, it has indicated that it “strongly condemns” and “firmly opposes” the decision of the Canadian side, while announcing that it “has filed a severe protest” and that it “will take forceful countermeasures”, for which reason “all Consequences arising therefrom will be borne by the Canadian party”.
“China does not accept it at all. We urge the Canadian side to step back and refrain from moving further down the wrong path. If the Canadian side acts freely and arbitrarily, China will react firmly and resolutely,” read a statement.
“Such provocations on the Canadian side have seriously undermined the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese diplomatic and consular personnel,” added the spokesman, who also noted that diplomatic personnel “always carry out their duties in accordance with international conventions and agreements corresponding bilaterals”.
Source: Ambito
