Just weeks after a high-profile misstep by its foreign affairs minister in Ottawa, China may once again be feeling the heat from the Canadian government.
This time, the two countries are at odds over travel permits being granted by China to certain Canadian citizens.
Since early June, Canadian citizens who were born in Hong Kong have reportedly been told by the Chinese government that they can only apply to travel to China as Chinese nationals.
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Previously, they had a choice whether to travel as Chinese nationals — using a special travel document — or as Canadian citizens who are issued a standard visa.
The change essentially means that certain Canadians may no longer have the protection of the Canadian embassy when they enter China, according to NDP MP Jenny Kwan, who was herself born in Hong Kong.
“The change in practice should be of grave concern to Canadians,” Kwan wrote in a publicly released letter to Foreign Affiars Minister Stéphane Dion. “After all, a Canadian is a Canadian. As such, should all Canadians not be treated the same?”
Felix Corriveau, a spokesman for Immigration Minister John McCallum’s office, said that “Canada is aware of recent reports of challenges for Canadian-Chinese dual citizens in obtaining visas to visit China from Hong Kong.”
“We are looking into the issue and are following up with the Chinese authorities on the question of visa eligibility,” Corriveau said. “Canada stands ready to provide consular services to all Canadian citizens requiring assistance.”
It’s the second time in a little under a month that Canadian-Chinese relations have hit a potential snag. In early June, Canada expressed its displeasure with China over the behaviour of Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who publicly berated a Canadian journalist for asking a question about the country’s human rights record.
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