(FILES) This picture taken on December 5, 2017, shows Canadian and Chinese flags taken prior to a meeting with Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and China’s President Xi Jinping at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing. (Photo by Fred DUFOUR / POOL / AFP)

Sinabi ng China na pinatalsik nito ang consul ng Canada sa Shanghai sa isang “tit-for-tat move” matapos sabihin ng Ottawa na pinauwi nito ang isang Chinese diplomat na inakusahan ng pagtatangkang makipagkaibigan sa isang Canadian lawmaker na kritikal sa Beijing.

Binansagan ng foreign ministry ng Beijing si Jennifer Lynn Lalonde na “persona non grata” sa isang English statement na inilathala online, at idinagdag na “China reserves the right to further react.”

Si Lalonde ay inatasang umalis sa China sa May 13.

Ayon pa sa pahayag, “China strongly condemns and firmly opposes this and has lodged serious demarches and strong protest to Canada. As a reciprocal countermeasure in reaction to Canada’s unscrupulous move, China decides to declare Jennifer Lynn Lalonde, consul of the Consulate General of Canada in Shanghai persona non grata.”

Ang hakbang ng Beijing ay pagkatapos sabihin ng Canadian Foreign Minister na si Melanie Joly, na kailangang umalis sa Canada ng Chinese diplomat na nakabase sa Toronto na si Zhao Wei.

Aniya, “Canada, would not tolerate any form of foreign interference in our internal affairs. We remain firm in our resolve that defending our democracy is of the utmost importance, foreign diplomats in Canada have been warned that if they engage in this type of behavior, they will be sent home.”

© Agence France-Presse