Canada expels Chinese diplomat over alleged intimidation plan

 

Ottawa announced Monday the expulsion of a Chinese diplomat accused of having sought to intimidate a Canadian lawmaker critical of Beijing, plunging the two nations into a new diplomatic row.

 

"We will not tolerate any form of foreign interference in our internal affairs," Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said in a statement declaring the diplomat "persona non grata."

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"We remain firm in our resolve that defending our democracy is of the utmost importance," she said, adding that foreign diplomats in Canada "have been warned that if they engage in this type of behavior, they will be sent home."

The move aggravated already strained Sino-Canadian relations, with China "strongly condemning" the decision it said was based on "groundless" accusations and vowing repercussions.

In a statement posted on its Ottawa embassy website, China said it had filed an official protest over breaches of international law and diplomatic norms, and accused Canada of "deliberately undermining relations" with its second largest trading partner.

According to a source familiar with the matter, Zhao Wei, an official at the Chinese consulate in Toronto at the heart of this affair, has been asked to leave Canada within five days.

His expulsion followed an outcry led by parliamentarian Michael Chong over allegations revealed by local media that China's intelligence agency had planned to target Chong and his relatives in Hong Kong with sanctions for voting in February 2021 for a motion condemning Beijing's conduct in the Xinjiang region as genocide.

This was "almost certainly meant to make an example of this MP and deter others from taking anti-PRC positions," the Globe and Mail newspaper last week cited a Canadian Security Intelligence Service document as saying, using an acronym for the People's Republic of China.

'Gamble'

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has faced growing pressure to take a hard line with Beijing following revelations in recent months that it sought to sway Canada's 2019 and 2021 elections.

The latest allegations were used by his critics to further accuse him of inertia in the face of foreign meddling.

"There was a real political risk for the Trudeau government in this affair, which is taking a gamble by showing its muscles in this way," said Genevieve Tellier, a politics professor at the University of Ottawa.

Relations between Beijing and Ottawa have been tense since Canada's arrest in 2018 of a top Huawei executive and the detention of two Canadian nationals in China in apparent retaliation.

All three have been released, but Beijing has continued to blast Ottawa for aligning with Washington's China policy and Canadian officials have regularly accused China of interference.

After China's ambassador was summoned last week over the latest interference allegations, Beijing on Friday slammed what it called "groundless slander and defamation" by Canada.

The Chinese foreign ministry insisted the scandal had been "hyped up by some Canadian politicians and media."

On Monday, Chong told reporters in Ottawa: "It shouldn't have taken the targeting of a member of Parliament to make this (expulsion) decision."

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"We have known for years that the PRC is using its accredited diplomats here in Canada to target Canadians and their families," he said.

He said Canada has become "a playground for foreign interference," including the harassment of diaspora communities.

Roromme Chantal, a China expert at the School of Advanced Public Studies in Moncton, told AFP that Canada should expect retaliation to take the form of "the expulsion of a Canadian diplomat if not several diplomats."

Beijing, he said, “could also take economic reprisals, as a way of sending a message to other countries that are talking about interference.”

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau(AP)

 

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"Your Resolution Is My Resolution": PM Modi To Karnataka People Ahead Of Polls

 

New Delhi:

After the high-voltage campaign for the May 10 assembly elections in Karnataka ended, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday assured the people of the state saying that he envisioned their dreams as his own.

In a video posted on Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) official Twitter handle, PM Modi said, "The dream of every Kannadiga is my own dream. Your resolution is my resolution."

Highlighting Karnataka's significant role in the country's economy, the PM said, "India is the fifth largest economy in the world. Soon we need to make sure that India is among the top three economies of the world. This is possible only when Karnataka's economy develops at a rapid rate."

Lauding the 3.5-year term of the double-engine government in Karnataka, PM Modi said, "BJP government's decisive, focused and futuristic approach is contributing significantly to Karnataka's economy."

"Even during covid, under the leadership of Karnataka BJP, foreign investment of 90 thousand crore was witnessed yearly. However, during the previous governments, Karnataka saw a yearly foreign investment of approximately 30 thousand crore. This is the BJP's commitment to the youth of Karnataka," the PM added.

Reiterating the party's commitment to the development in the state, PM Modi said, "BJP's government will work with utmost loyalty to improve the infrastructure in cities, advance the transport system, improve quality of life in villages and cities, and ensure that new opportunities are created for women and the youth."

"We want Katnataka to be Number One in investment, industry and innovation. We want Karnataka to be number One in education, employment, and entrepreneurship. BJP is also trying to make Karnataka number One in agriculture too. Karnataka's heritage and cultural competence have been revered," he added.

"For making Karnataka number One, I request you all to cast your vote as responsible citizens on May 10," PM Modi further remarked.

All three major political parties in the state - BJP, Congress and the Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) have put all their efforts to woo the voters, making promises and launching accusations at each other to secure a majority in the state's 224-seat Assembly.

The Karnataka assembly will go to polls on May 10 and the counting of votes will take place on May 13. The majority mark to form the government is 113 seats.

The BJP which is facing an air of anti-incumbency factor, is eyeing a second term in the state and has exuded confidence in retaining power with a full majority.

The Lingayat and Vokkaliga voters will play a major factor in the elections. Lingayats comprise 17 per cent of the population and Vokkaligas 11 per cent.

Significantly, Karnataka is the only state in the South where BJP is in power.

With top leadership including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah campaigning for the party, BJP has put all its might to strengthen its support base.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed 19 public meetings and held six roadshows. Amit Shah held 16 public rallies and 14 roadshows. BJP chief JP Nadda held 10 public meetings and 16 roadshows.

Hectic electioneering by leaders of various political parties saw BJP allowing Union Ministers and Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states to campaign with their full force in Karnataka while the Congress campaigning saw Rahul Gandhi camping in the state for 20 days and top leaders from the party as well Priyanka Gandhi Vadra trying to improve party's prospects in Karnataka.

The Uniform Civil Code (UCC), the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and repealing of job reservations for Muslims are some of the promises assured by the BJP in its manifesto.

Congress in its manifesto promises to bring back the Muslim quota, higher reservations for various classes, cash handouts and freebies.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

 

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