The Canadian authorities summoned the envoy after warnings emerged that Ottawa is prepared to take more action if China refuses to “cease and desist” from its alleged activities.

Speaking to the Canada-China committee on Tuesday evening, Weldon Epp, director general of north Asia for Canada’s foreign ministry, told The Guardian he knew of “several engagements” by the federal government with China, including repeatedly summoning the ambassador, Cong Peiwu.

“We’ve had several engagements … and we have conveyed our deep concern,” Epp, director general of north Asia for Canada’s foreign ministry, told parliamentarians.

Epp was responding to a question from Raquel Dancho, the Conservative public safety shadow minister who raised the issue during the committee hearing following previous media reports.