‘Stop spreading lies’ about intimidation of MP, China tells Canada
- The Chinese embassy in Canada hits back at claims lawmaker and his family were targeted by intelligence agency over Xinjiang vote
- Canadian outcry has included calls for a Chinese diplomat named in newspaper report to be expelled from the country
An embassy said this week’s outcry over the allegations – reported by the Globe and Mail, citing classified documents and an anonymous security source – was “pure political manipulation with ulterior motives”.
The newspaper said Conservative MP Michael Chong and his relatives were targeted for sanctions because of his vote in February 2021 in favour of a parliamentary motion condemning Beijing’s conduct in Xinjiang as genocide.
The report said a Chinese diplomat in Canada was involved in a Ministry of State Security effort to get information on Chong and his family in Hong Kong.
A growing number of opposition MPs have joined Chong’s call for the diplomat to be expelled. Chong has also criticised Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government for not telling him two years ago about the alleged threat, contained in a Canadian intelligence report quoted by The Globe and Mail.
“Certain Canadian politicians and media, based on false reports, hyped up the so-called interference by China in Canada’s internal affairs and falsely claimed that relevant Chinese consular officials in Canada had made so-called threats against the Canadian MP and his relatives,” the embassy said.