Han Dong, who was exonerated for allegedly pressuring China to postpone the release of two prisoners, intended to rejoin the Liberal Party but was not nominated by the caucus.
A Canadian politician of Chinese descent, who finds himself embroiled in a foreign interference scandal, has opted to withdraw from the upcoming crucial national elections this month. This decision comes after his previous political party declined to put forward his name as a candidate for nomination.
Han Dong, previously an MP for the governing Liberal Party, resigned from the party in 2023 after a news report alleged that
He recommended to the Chinese consulate
In Toronto in 2021 to postpone the release of two Canadians, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, who were detained in China at that time.
Dong, who refuted the report, stayed on as an independent following his departure from the party. However, he informed the Toronto Star in January of his desire to contest elections once more under the Liberal Party flag.
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During the weekend, however, he discovered that the party planned to field a new contender, Maggie Chi, in his Don Valley North constituency in Toronto for the federal election scheduled for April 28.
The Liberal Party of Canada has not yet responded to inquiries regarding their choice of Chi instead of Dong.
On Sunday, Dong stated that although he felt let down, he would withdraw from the contest “in order to provide the Liberal Party of Canada with the optimal opportunity to establish a government and shield us from the hazards presented by Donald Trump.”
Dong also stated that he will persist in his efforts to prove his innocence. He remains
seeking
C$15 million (US$11 million) in damages from Global News, the Canadian network that released an article in March 2023 claiming he made comments regarding Kovrig and Spavor, referred to in media circles as the “two Michaels.”
The duo had been held since December 2018, seemingly as a response to Canada detaining Meng Wanzhou, who was the CFO of Huawei Technologies. They were freed soon after Meng’s release on September 24, 2021.
Following the accusations made in 2023, Dong has become entangled in federal probes concerning foreign meddling, an issue that hasBeenCalled
صندIntialized
roiled
The Chinese-Canadian community has turned into a point of contention between Ottawa and Beijing.
Dong admitted to conversing with the Chinese consul general, yet persistently refuted the Global News account of their discussion’s contents along with any participation in Chinese efforts aimed at interfering with elections.
In January, an extensive 16-month investigation into foreign interference, spearheaded by Quebec Court of Appeal Judge Marie-Josee Hogue, came to a close.
concluded
there was no “indication of ‘ traitors’ in Parliament colluding with foreign nations to work against Canada.”
Regarding the claims about Dong’s conversations concerning the two Michaels, Hogue stated: “He did not propose that the PRC prolong their imprisonment.”
An earlier probe conducted by David Johnston, who once served as the governor general of Canada, similarly determined that the claims about Dong’s behavior concerning the two Michaels were unfounded.
China has rejected all allegations of interfering with Canadian elections, stating that it has no intention of involving itself in Canada’s domestic matters.
Recently, relations between these two countries have become more strained due to China executing four Canadians on drug charges and implementing new tariffs on Canadian agricultural goods. This move from China appears to be in response to the duties that Canada’s government placed on certain imports last year.
Dong’s exit coincides with an increasing number of Canadian academics asserting that it is essential to differentiate between “foreign influence” and “foreign interference” in ongoing discussions.
“Expanding the scope excessively leads to far too many innocent individuals being labeled as suspects,” wrote Diana Fu, an associate professor at the University of Toronto, in a report released in February.
“A strong democracy must be capable of identifying and penalizing foreign operatives while simultaneously protecting marginalized groups. It’s crucial to employ definitive consequences for these actions,” she stated.
Dong isn’t the sole Canadian politician of Chinese heritage to have decided to withdraw as the Liberal Party aims to demonstrate that they are the most capable group for facing down U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats against Canada.
On Monday evening, Member of Parliament Paul Chiang from Markham-Unionville—a constituency within the Greater Toronto Area—stated that he was
dropping out
Following comments he made that encouraged his backers to hand a competing politician over to the Chinese consulate for a reward of HK$1 million (US$128,540), this came to light.
“As Prime Minister and as part of Team Canada, we are working to confront President Trump and safeguard our economy during this crucial time,” stated Chiang. “I believe it’s essential that we avoid any potential distractions.”
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The article initially appeared on the South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com), which is the premier source for news coverage of China and Asia.
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