Canada scolds Chinese ambassador for offensive comments, opposition leader calls for expulsion if ambassador fails to apologize

Posted by admin Africa & World Politics, Canadian Politics, Headlines, NNP News Sunday, October 18th, 2020

(NNP) The frosty relations between Canada and China plunged deeper into icy waters with Canada criticizing the harsh measures in Hong Kong against pro-democracy agitators and the imprisonment of Muslim minorities. Canada also criticized Beijing’s detention of two Canadian men arrested in retaliation for Canada’s arrest of Meng Wanzhou, the CFO of Chinese tech giant Huawei and daughter of its founder, on a US arrest warrant.

The Chinese ambassador, Cong Peiwu, however warned Canada to stop granting asylum to Hong Kong pro-democratic dissidents after learning that Canada has taken in two of such dissidents. The ambassador stated that such move is considered interference in Chinese internal affairs and could embolden others to continue in their track. Mr. Peiwu took exception to the call by 60 Canadian lawmakers to take in more dissidents who are escaping China’s harsh national security law that was recently passed.

The ambassador stated to the media, “We strongly urge the Canadian side not to grant so-called political asylum to those violent criminals in Hong Kong, because it is interference in China’s domestic affairs, and certainly it will embolden those violent criminals,” he said. The ambassador further hinted that the “health” and “safety” of the 300,000 Canadians in Hong Kong could be jeopardized if Ottawa continues to grant asylum to Hong Kong pro-democracy dissidents.

This thinly veiled threat didn’t go well with Canadian officials who summoned the ambassador for an explanation and warned him to be careful of his statements. Calling for tougher reaction beyond scolding, the recently elected Conservative Party opposition leader, Erin O’Toole, called for the expulsion of the ambassador if he refuses to apologize for his comments which he stated were “unbecoming” of his office. He stated, “It was of the kind of tone and tenor one would expect from someone seeking protection money – not someone who is the official emissary of a member of the United Nations Security Council,” Mr. O’Toole said.

–NewNigerianPoliticswp_posts