Chinese Ambassador Lu Shumin told Canadian politicians not to pass judgment on his government's response to unrest in Tibet this week, even as condemnations and expressions of concern were starting to fly.
"Certainly we wouldn't accept all these accusations, this is unfair," he told Embassy on Monday. "They should understand what really has happened before they make any comment."
Violence erupted in Tibet last week on the 49th anniversary of an uprising that sought to cast off Chinese control of the Himalayan region. Protesters torched Chinese businesses and scuffled with police before the Chinese government clamped down with military and security forces.
While journalists and foreigners have been banned from visiting the region, there are reports that dozens, if not hundreds, have been killed.
Mr. Lu echoed his government's allegations that Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, was responsible for the violence and instability, which has prompted worldwide protests and threatens to tarnish China's image as it prepares to host the Olympics this summer.
"What has happened is a well planned, premeditated kind of action by the separatist forces at home and outside the country," Mr. Lu said. "It's clearly planned by the Dalai Lama clique and his people.
"It's not to express freedom of speech or anything," he added. "It's a kind of riot. There is burning, robbing and killing. There are innocent people being killed.
"When anything like this happens in any country, I think the government would take actions."
Despite hosting the Dalai Lama's first ever visit to Parliament Hill in October, the Conservative government issued a subdued reaction.
Speaking on the edges of an Organization of American States meeting in Washington, D.C., on Monday, Foreign Minister Maxime Bernier said: "We condemn what is happening right now in Tibet and we urge the Chinese government, the Chinese authorities to respect the freedom of association, the freedom of religion, the freedom of speech for all Tibetans."
He said that message had been broadcast to Mr. Lu as well as Chinese authorities in Beijing. He reiterated the Conservative foreign policy of promoting rights, the rule of law and democracy.
"And so we're doing that at the same time right now with China."
However, not all Canadian politicians were as restrained.
Conservative Senator Consiglio Di Nino, chair of Parliamentary Friends of Tibet and one of those responsible for bringing the Dalai Lama to Ottawa, condemned China's overreaction.
"China is showing great weakness here," he told Embassy on Monday. "This is a small group of people who don't really pose any kind of threat. They're not armed."
Mr. Di Nino said the Chinese provoked the recent events by stifling Tibetan culture and oppressing their freedoms.
"I don't think the learned a lesson yet," he said. "They can't be bullies all their lives."
Yesterday, Mr. Di Nino penned a letter to International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge, urging him to pressure China to ease off Tibet.
"Beijing secured the winning of this summer's Olympics on the promise of change," he wrote. "Their deeds to date have fallen far short of their words.
"I urge you to publicly call on China to restore the fundamental rights and freedoms of the Tibetan people," he continued. "The denial of these basic rights over so many years should no longer be overlooked by those in positions of influence who can make a difference."
Mr. Rogge told reporters yesterday he deals with sports, not politics.
Mr. De Nino has also urged Dick Pound and Beckie Scott, Canada's two representatives to the IOC, to use their positions to influence China.
The Liberals, Bloc Québécois and NDP have all issued strongly worded statements this week urging Canada to step up its diplomatic pressure on China. The issue was also brought up a number of times during Question Period last week.
Dermod Travis, executive director of the Canada Tibet Committee, is urging MPs to cancel travel plans to the games, "so as to avoid lending their support, tacit or otherwise, to the regime."
The call has raised the spectre of a boycott of the 2010 Olympics.
Both Mr. Bernier and Secretary of State for Multicultralism Jason Kenney denied yesterday that a boycott is under consideration. Mr. Kenney, a fervent supporter of Tibet, would not say on Monday if any more diplomatic moves are planned, but again urged restraint.
"We hope the country hosting the Olympics would prove it is worthy to do so in the way they deal with issues like this," said Mr. Kenney.
A peaceful protest was held Monday outside the Chinese consulate in Toronto.
中国大使：“加拿大你给我少管闲事”