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Canada lawmaker Han Dong denies report he advised Chinese diplomat, but resigns from Trudeau’s party

  • Canadian lawmaker Han Dong said he will defend himself against ‘absolutely untrue claims’ after Global News report
  • Report alleged he advised a Chinese diplomat in 2021 that Beijing should hold off freeing two imprisoned Canadians

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Chinese-Canadian lawmaker Han Dong. Photo: Facebook / Han Dong
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A Chinese-Canadian lawmaker, cited in unconfirmed media reports as having ties to the Beijing government, forcefully denied those allegations but announced his resignation as a member of the Liberal Party led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Trudeau last month denied a media report the party had been warned by the country’s spy agency to drop Han Dong, a Toronto-area member of parliament, as a Liberal candidate ahead of the 2019 election because he had Beijing’s support.

On Wednesday a new story by Global News, a Canadian broadcaster, reported Han had advised a senior Chinese diplomat in February 2021 that Beijing should hold off freeing two Canadians held there under espionage charges.

Global News said it got the information from national security sources it didn’t name.

Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig returned to Canada in September 2021 after Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou was released from house arrest in Canada.

“I did nothing to cause them any harm. Like everyone in this house, I worked hard and advocated for their interest,” Han told parliament after the Global News report.

Han will remain in Canada’s parliament as an independent member with no party affiliation.

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