China says it considers Joe Tay a “wanted person” after Liberal bounty comments

The Embassy of China has said it considers Conservative candidate Joe Tay a “wanted person” after Liberal MP Paul Chiang called for Tay to be turned in to Chinese authorities in return for a bounty.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China has said it considers Conservative candidate Joe Tay a “wanted person” after Liberal MP Paul Chiang called for Tay to be turned in to Chinese authorities in return for a bounty.

In a statement to True North, the Embassy addressed Tay, the Conservative candidate for Don Valley West. According to a Chinese Embassy in Ottawa spokesperson, Tay “will definitely be punished by law.” Tay is not wanted for any crimes in Canada.

The spokesperson accused Tay of being “engaged in anti-China and anti-Hong Kong activities” and advocating for Hong Kong independence.

“The Hong Kong Police has, in accordance with the law, carried out law enforcement actions including specifying Joe Tay as a wanted person. Hong Kong is a society governed by the rule of law. No one has extra-legal privileges, and any unlawful or criminal acts will definitely be punished by law,” said the spokesperson.

Regarding China’s stance on Canada’s federal election, the spokesperson added:

“Regarding issues related to Canada’s federal election, the election is Canada’s internal affairs, on which China has no comment.”

The Embassy released the statement when Chiang announced his resignation as the Liberal candidate for Markham-Unionville amid an RCMP investigation into his comments. Chiang resigned despite Liberal Leader Mark Carney vowing to keep him as a candidate.

The allegations have sparked widespread condemnation from national security experts, opposition politicians, and Chinese dissidents. Conservative MP Michael Chong, a vocal critic of the Chinese Communist Party’s influence in Canada, denounced the situation, stating:

“It’s outrageous that after years of turning a blind eye to Chinese Communist Party (CCP) foreign interference, warnings from experts, and a public inquiry, that the Liberals continue to play footsie with foreign interference, putting the security of Canadians at risk.”

Chiang’s resignation follows a broader pattern of concerns regarding foreign interference in Canadian politics. He was previously endorsed by Sing Tao, a Hong Kong-based publication with alleged CCP ties, which had positively covered his political career and achievements in Canada.