World
China says claims of officials ‘coercing’ Canadian congressman, relatives are false
China’s Toronto consulate-general said on Thursday that a report of consular officers “coercing” a Canadian lawmaker and his family have “no factual basis and is purely baseless”, adding that Canadian media and politicians have ulterior motives.
“We express strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to this,” the consulate-general spokesperson said in a statement, urging the media and politicians concerned to “stop spreading rumors and smearing.”
For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
The consulate said Canadian media and politicians were “intentionally damaging the reputation and image” of the consulate, and “maliciously interfering with normal communication and cooperation between both parties.”
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Wednesday that Canada’s spy agency withheld information about Chinese threats against Michael Chong, a member of parliament with Canada’s main opposition Conservative party, and his family in 2021.
Trudeau said he had told the agency that such threats must be revealed immediately in the future.
Read more:
Chinese data provider tightens some information access for offshore users: Sources
Myanmar’s sovereignty should be respected: China’s foreign ministry
China’s exit bans multiply as political control tightens under Xi Jinping