China warns of 'countermeasures' after Canada expels diplomat

Nepal Views

Kathmandu: China has warned of ‘countermeasures’ after Canada expelled a Chinese diplomat on Monday.

The Canadian government has expelled a Toronto-based Chinese diplomat who was allegedly involved in a scheme to intimidate a member of parliament.

Canada’s foreign affairs minister Mélanie Joly declared Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei a ‘persona non grata’ in a statement on Monday. China is accused of seeking to target lawmaker Michael Chong and his relatives in Hong Kong after he accused China of human rights abuses.

China’s embassy in Ottawa said it condemns the expulsion.

Beijing has repeatedly denied accusations of political interference in Canada. A statement from the Chinese Embassy in Canada on Monday called allegations of political interference ‘groundless’ and warned of ‘consequences.’

‘China strongly condemns and firmly opposes it and has lodged a solemn representation with Canada. China will resolutely take countermeasures, and Canada will bear all the consequences arising therefrom,’ the Chinese Embassy in Canada said in a statement.

The statement added that the move ‘deliberately undermines China-Canada relations.’

The allegations come amid other intelligence reports, leaked to Canadian media outlets, that have accused China of attempting to interfere in Canadian elections. In March, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau announced an independent special rapporteur to investigate the interference claims.