Han Dong Resigns From Liberal Caucus After Report Alleges He Told Chinese Diplomat to Hold Off on Releasing Two Michaels

Opposition parties reiterate calls for a public inquiry into Chinese election interference

Han Dong celebrates with supporters as a provincial Liberal candidate in the Toronto area on May 22, 2014. He was later elected as a Liberal MP. Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press

MP Han Dong said March 22 he is resigning from the Liberal caucus after a news report alleged he had told a Chinese diplomat that Beijing should not release two Canadian citizens who had been arbitrarily detained in China, an allegation that Dong denies.

“I’m taking this extraordinary step because to sit in the government caucus is a privilege, and my presence there may be seen by some as a conflict of duty, and the wrong place to be as independent investigations pursues the facts in this matter,” Dong said in the House of Commons.