Yet another intelligence leak suggests that, in 2021, Liberal MP Han Dong advised senior Chinese diplomats to hold off from freeing the two Canadian Michaels who were unjustly jailed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). 

At the time, Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor were imprisoned in China for more than two years in what was presumed retribution from the CCP after Canada detained the Hauwei executive, Meng Wanzhou, at the request of the US government.

Global News reports that Dong spoke with China’s consul general in Toronto, Han Tao, advising him that the Conservative Party of Canada would benefit if they released the two Michaels. Instead, Dong suggested Beijing “show some progress” on the matter. 

This report comes just one day after the Don Valley North Liberal MP Dong denied all accusations of wrongdoing against him. Last month, another CSIS allegation suggested that the CCP mobilized Chinese international students to campaign for Liberal candidates including Dong.

However, Dong admitted to Global that he spoke with the Chinese consul general in Toronto, but insisted that the allegations are false.

“I raised the status of Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig and called for their immediate release,” Dong said.

“At every opportunity before they returned home, I adamantly demanded their release to Canada without delay. Any suggestions otherwise are false and are attempts to mislead you and your readers, and slander me.”

The Prime Minster’s Office reports having no knowledge of the alleged conversation between Dong and China’s consul general — and that Dong was never used as a “back channel.”

The Counter Signal reached out to Dong’s office for comment but did not hear back before publication. This story will be updated when he responds.