China: China has expelled Canada’s consul in Shanghai in retaliation for Ottawa sending home a Chinese diplomat accused of trying to intimidate a Canadian MP. Canada has previously declared Chinese diplomat Mr. Zhao Wei “persona non grata” and ordered her to leave the country.

In response, China ordered the removal of Ms. Jennifer Lynn Lalonde, Canada’s diplomat in its Shanghai Consulate.

“China strongly condemns and resolutely opposes Canada’s decision, and has made solemn representations and protests to the Canadian side,” the Chinese foreign ministry stated.

“China reserves the right to further react,” Beijing further noted in a statement.

Both diplomats have five days to leave the countries.

Canada had previously accused China of targeting its opposition lawmaker, Mr. Michael Chong, and his relatives in Hong Kong after Mr. Chong accused China of human rights abuses.

Recently, Canada summoned China’s ambassador to reiterate that Canada would not tolerate interference in its affairs. Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Ms. Mélanie Joly, declared Mr. Zhao a “persona non grata,” a Latin phrase for an “unwelcome person.”

China called the move “unscrupulous” and declared the same of Ms. Lalonde, saying it was a “reciprocal countermeasure.”

The move by Ottawa follows a Canadian intelligence report that accused Mr. Zhao of being involved in gathering information about Mr. Chong, 51, following his vocal criticism of China’s treatment of its Uighur minority population.

Ms. Joly remarked that Canada “will not tolerate any form of foreign interference in our internal affairs” and that the decision to expel the diplomat had “been taken after careful consideration of all factors at play.”

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