China has introduced the expulsion of a Canadian diplomat in retaliation for Ottawa’s ordering a Chinese consular official to depart over alleged threats he made towards a Canadian lawmaker and his household.

The Foreign Ministry on Tuesday stated China was deploying a “reciprocal countermeasure to Canada’s unscrupulous move,” which it stated it “firmly opposes.”

It stated the Canadian diplomat based mostly within the enterprise hub of Shanghai has been requested to depart by May 13 and that China “reserves the right to take further actions in response.”

Canada earlier on Tuesday stated that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s authorities is expelling a Chinese diplomat whom Canada’s spy company alleged was concerned in a plot to intimidate an opposition lawmaker and his relations in Hong Kong.

A senior authorities official stated Toronto-based diplomat Zhao Wei has 5 days to depart the nation.