Another bombshell report looking into Chinese interference in Canadian politics says Liberal MP Han Dong privately advised a senior Chinese diplomat in February 2021 that Beijing should hold off freeing Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor..Global News reported the story quoting two separate national security sources.."Both sources said Dong allegedly suggested to Han Tao, China’s consul general in Toronto, that if Beijing released the Two Michaels, whom China accused of espionage, the Opposition Conservatives would benefit," the Global report says..Kovrig and Spayor were accused by China of espionage shortly after Canadian officials took Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou into custody on a US arrest warrant.."Dong also allegedly recommended Beijing show some progress in the Kovrig and Spavor cases, the two sources said. Such a move would help the ruling Liberal Party, which was facing an uproar over China’s inhumane treatment of the Two Michaels," Global reported.."Dong, who represents the Toronto-area riding of Don Valley North, was the one to initiate the discussion with the consul general, the two sources said, adding Dong stipulated at the outset it was both a personal and a work-related conversation.".Dong has been at the centre of numerous recent stories alleging he was involved with Chinese interference in the last two Canadian elections..Dong told Global he had a discussion with Han, but denied he initiated it..He also denied advising Beijing on how to handle the Two Michaels situation.."I raised the status of Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig and called for their immediate release,” Dong said..“At every opportunity before they returned home, I adamantly demanded their release to Canada without delay. Any suggestions otherwise are false and are attempts to mislead you and your readers, and slander me.”.On Twitter, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh repeated his call for a full public inquiry.
Another bombshell report looking into Chinese interference in Canadian politics says Liberal MP Han Dong privately advised a senior Chinese diplomat in February 2021 that Beijing should hold off freeing Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor..Global News reported the story quoting two separate national security sources.."Both sources said Dong allegedly suggested to Han Tao, China’s consul general in Toronto, that if Beijing released the Two Michaels, whom China accused of espionage, the Opposition Conservatives would benefit," the Global report says..Kovrig and Spayor were accused by China of espionage shortly after Canadian officials took Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou into custody on a US arrest warrant.."Dong also allegedly recommended Beijing show some progress in the Kovrig and Spavor cases, the two sources said. Such a move would help the ruling Liberal Party, which was facing an uproar over China’s inhumane treatment of the Two Michaels," Global reported.."Dong, who represents the Toronto-area riding of Don Valley North, was the one to initiate the discussion with the consul general, the two sources said, adding Dong stipulated at the outset it was both a personal and a work-related conversation.".Dong has been at the centre of numerous recent stories alleging he was involved with Chinese interference in the last two Canadian elections..Dong told Global he had a discussion with Han, but denied he initiated it..He also denied advising Beijing on how to handle the Two Michaels situation.."I raised the status of Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig and called for their immediate release,” Dong said..“At every opportunity before they returned home, I adamantly demanded their release to Canada without delay. Any suggestions otherwise are false and are attempts to mislead you and your readers, and slander me.”.On Twitter, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh repeated his call for a full public inquiry.
