Chinese diplomat sent packing; Harper meeting still up in air

BRIAN LAGHI, Globe and Mail Update, Nov. 17, 2006-

Hanoi — The federal government has forced out of Canada a Chinese diplomat amid reports that he was spying on Falun Gong members while working for the Chinese embassy.

Officials confirmed the move Friday as Canada and China are embroiled in controversy over an on-again, off-again meeting between Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Chinese President Hu Jintao.

Sandra Buckler, a spokesperson for the prime minister, said that the government recently refused to extend the visa of Wang Pengfei, an embassy official. Although she would not say why, a report from the Epoch Times, a newspaper that reports extensively on persecutions in China — especially of Falun Gong practitioners — said Mr. Wang had been gathering information on Canadians of Chinese descent who take part in the meditative practice.

“His diplomatic visa was not renewed and he has since left the country,” said Ms. Buckler.

She would not say whether the matter played a role in the cancellation of a meeting between Mr. Harper and Mr. Hu.

The Chinese have since said they would like to have a meeting, but also vowed to oppose any “irresponsible” interference in its internal affairs.

Earlier this week, Mr. Harper said he too was interested in meeting Mr. Hu, but that he would not “sell out” on the issue of human rights for the “almighty dollar.”

China has branded Falun Gong an evil cult and is seen by officials as a threat to Communist rule.

Mr. Wang’s name appeared on the roster of foreign diplomats in Canada published in September, but is not included in the most recent index, from November.

Sources told the Epoch Times that Mr. Wang believed his rejection was tied to his activities in Canada, which went beyond his prescribed duties as a diplomat.

The Epoch Times is a private news media company with corporate offices in New York. It states that it is an independent voice in news. Its English-language print edition is distributed weekly in Canada, often free of charge, and other major western countries.

Ms. Buckler said Friday that there is still no word on whether a meeting between Mr. Harper and Mr. Hu will take place.

“Our comments remain that we’re open to meet with China,” she said. “As of right now, I can’t confirm any meeting.”

Meanwhile, Mr. Harper expanded his effort to bring a focus to human rights abuses in other countries, bringing the issue to light in a Friday meeting with his Vietnamese counterpart, Nguyen Tan Dung.

Mr. Harper brought forward a number of names with Mr. Nguyen of individuals who are facing legal troubles because of their challenges to restrictions on religious freedom and other civil rights.

“They are cases that include religious freedom, and also political freedom,” said a Canadian official. “People who have been accused of being dissidents and who are facing some form of legal pressure as a result of that.”

Vietnamese workers are forbidden from organizing unions, internet users are monitored closely to ensure they do not access banned websites and Christian churches continue to be harassed in the country. One man, Nguyen Vu Binh, is in solitary confinement after providing written testimony about human rights in Vietnam to the U.S. Congress four years ago.

With files from Canadian Press in Ottawa

– Original: Chinese diplomat sent packing; Harper meeting still up in air, Globe and Mail, Canada

Related:

– Canada sends Chinese official home over snooping charges: Epoch Times report, Canadian Press(CP), November 17, 2006
– Chinese Diplomat in Canada Booted Out for Spying on Falun Gong, Epoch Times, Nov 16, 2006