Claims of Chinese Intimidation of MPs

Chong claims he did not know he and his family were targets

There was a very strong exchange of words between Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly and Conservative Member of Parliament Michael Chong today over the government continuing to allow a Chinese diplomat to continue to operate in the country when he allegedly targeted Chong and his family overseas.

The diplomat in question is Zhao Wei, who was accused of "intimidation operations" in 2021 against Chong and his family in Hong Kong, which was first reported by the Globe and Mail on Monday.

Joly concerned about fallout from China

When pressed to summon the Chinese ambassador about this alleged intimidation campaign, Joly said considerations had to be made on how this would impact Sino-Canadian relations with regards to trade and politics.

The newspaper reported Zhao was looking into Chong's relatives who live in China, for possible sanctions by China. The report cites a leaked Canadian intelligence document from July 2021.

Chong said he was received the briefing in 2021 but claimed he had no idea he and his family were targets -- until this week.

The Toronto MP Chong has taken a strong stance against the Chinese government, including sponsoring a motion in parliament declaring that Beijing's treatment of Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities amounts to genocide.

Cong was summoned by Joly this morning

However, while Joly did summon Chinese ambassador Cong Peiwu, she seemed very cautious, worried about the possible political and economic consequences following the experience with the two Michaels, Spavor and Kovrig who were detained for nearly three years.

"It's about you, but it's about also the interests of the country," Joly said to Chong.

"So as we are assessing the interests -- and I know that we are under pressure to go fast -- we need to make sure as well that we protect our democracy and this is why we will take action in light of the facts that are being presented regarding your case."

But Chong pushed for action to immediately expel Zhao.

"I can't think of an interest more important to the Canadian state than the protection and the safety and the security of its own citizens," he said.

The two Michaels were detained for 3 yrs

"I think that that is the only course of action here, because if we do not take that course of action, Minister, we are basically putting up a giant billboard for all authoritarian states around the world that says we are open for foreign interference."

In a statement in Chinese, the Chinese embassy in Ottawa expressed "strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition" to the claims it targeted Chong's family, saying the reports were false and hyped up by some Canadian politicians and the media.

"China has never interfered in Canada's internal affairs, nor does it have any interest in doing so, let alone threatening Canadian MPs," the statement said. It added sanctions it had applied directly to Chong in 2021 were "entirely self-inflected."

This incident is keeping the Liberals in the hot seat despite its best efforts to try to deflect it away; China is souring on Canadians and this latest development adds a lot more heat.