Former Liberal MP Han Dong should have faced severe consequences for discussing the case of detained Canadians with the Chinese consulate without informing the government, according to former Canadian ambassador to China, David Mulroney. Han Dong resigned from the Liberal caucus on March 22, after allegations that he advised a Chinese diplomat to delay the release of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, citing the benefit such a move would have for the opposing Conservative Party. Dong has denied the allegations and is suing the reporting source, Global News. Mulroney criticized Dong’s contact with the Chinese consulate as questionable and unusual, raising issues of government incompetence. Dong confirmed that he had raised the issue of Kovrig and Spavor with the Chinese consul-general but claimed he demanded their immediate release rather than advised against it. The Epoch Times and Global News found no record of Dong mentioning the two Canadians before 2023. Kovrig and Spavor were released in 2021 after more than 1,000 days in Chinese prison following Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou’s deferred prosecution agreement with the United States.