Canadian lawmaker Han Dong denies Beijing ties, but resigns from ruling party

Chinese-Canadian lawmaker Han Dong has exited Canada’s governing Liberal Party following unconfirmed media reports that he had ties to the Beijing government. The reports said Han secretly met a senior Chinese diplomat in 2021 and suggested that Beijing hold off on freeing two Canadians who had at the time been detained by China for more than three years on spying charges. Han’s resignation comes amid larger concerns about China’s alleged interference in Canadian political affairs.