Former Liberal MP Han Dong should have faced “serious consequences” for discussing the case of imprisoned Canadians with the Chinese consulate without informing the government, says a former Canadian ambassador to China.
Dong, who is now sitting as an Independent MP representing Toronto’s Dong Valley North riding, resigned from the Liberal caucus on March 22, hours after a Global News report, citing national security sources, alleged that Dong advised a Chinese diplomat in February 2021 to hold off the release of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor. The report alleges that Dong said their release would benefit the opposing Conservative Party. Dong has denied the allegations, and announced that he is suing Global News for its reporting.
The two Canadians, now widely known as the “two Michaels,” had been detained in China for over two years by that time, in what was regarded as retaliation from Beijing over Canada’s arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou on a U.S. extradition request in December 2018.
Dong confirmed to Global News that he had raised the issue of Kovrig and Spavor with the Chinese consul-general Han Tao at the time, but said that he demanded their immediate release rather than advising against it.
David Mulroney, who was Canada’s ambassador to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) between 2009 and 2012, argues that Dong’s contact with the Chinese Consulate at all during the crisis is questionable and unusual.
“What seems indisputable in the Han Dong affair is that, in the midst of the Meng/2 Michaels crisis, a [government] MP discussed the case with a senior PRC diplomat without ever informing the foreign minister. Or anyone. And that he felt this was okay and somehow his responsibility,” Mulroney said on social media on March 24.
“A normal [government], in a crisis of this magnitude, would ride herd on MPs, staffers, officials, shutting down all unauthorized communications with China. Nobody would be allowed to freelance. Failure to comply would have swift, serious consequences.”
Mulroney says this raises issues of incompetence on the part of the government.
“So the most charitable explanation involves monumental government negligence and incompetence in a time of crisis. And a [government] M.P. who was allowed to believe his responsibilities included maintaining private communications with a state hostile to Canada,” he said.
“Finally, even when informed, the [government] believed that no action or public disclosure was required. Until it was reported in the media. Again, that’s the most charitable explanation,” he said.
In his speech in the House before leaving the Liberal caucus on March 22, Dong addressed Kovrig and Spavor, saying that he “worked hard and advocated for their interests as a parliamentarian.”
A separate Global News report reviewing Dong’s past statements on China-related issues since he was elected MP but found no remarks from him in Parliament in relation to the two men’s plight prior to March 2023. The Epoch Times also reviewed open-source parliamentary records of Dong’s remarks in Parliament and found that he made no mention of the two Canadians before his March 22 speech.
Dong has not responded to multiple requests for comment from The Epoch Times.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said last week that he accepts Dong’s decision to leave the Liberal caucus, but sidestepped questions from reporters about the reported allegations against the MP.
Kovrig and Spaor were released in September 2021 after spending more than 1,000 days in Chinese prison. Their release came shortly after the Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou reached a deferred prosecution agreement with the United States, and was freed.