Canada considers expelling Chinese diplomats for targeting MP

Canada has said it is considering expelling Chinese diplomats after Beijing was accused of targeting a member of parliament and his family.

Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly summoned China's ambassador on Thursday to discuss the issue.

It follows a report that Canada's spy agency believes China sought details about the MP's relatives in an effort to deter "anti-China positions".

The politician had previously accused China of human rights abuses.

On Thursday, Ms Joly said that she asked her deputy minister to tell China's ambassador, Cong Peiwu, that Canada will not tolerate interference in its affairs.

"What has happened is completely unacceptable," Ms Joly said.

"All options including expulsion of diplomats remain on the table, as we consider the consequences for this behaviour," she said.

China has denied the accusations and sanctioned Mr Chong shortly after in response.

The Globe and Mail report, published on Monday, suggested that Beijing had sought information about Mr Chong's relatives who may be in Hong Kong in a likely effort to "make an example of this MP and deter others from taking anti-PRC [People's Republic of China] positions".

In a statement to BBC News, China's foreign embassy said the ambassador "protested strongly" during his meeting with Canadian officials about the threat to expel Chinese diplomats.

Calling the allegations a "self-directed political farce", the embassy said: "China has always adhered to the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs."

Mr Chong said that he has been briefed by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) and criticised Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his government on Thursday for not expelling a diplomat the spy agency suggested was involved.

"Like many Canadians, I have family abroad," Mr Chong said in a statement. "(China's) targeting of families abroad to intimidate and coerce Canadians here at home is a serious, national threat."

Mr Trudeau said he only learned about the issue after the Globe and Mail report.

"CSIS made the determination that it wasn't something that needed to be raised to a higher level because it wasn't a significant enough concern," Mr Trudeau said on Wednesday.

Typically, summoning an ambassador is a diplomatic tool used by one country to publicly express anger or discontent against the other.

The allegations come amid other intelligence reports that have accused China of attempting to interfere in Canadian elections.