China voices strong opposition to Canadian spy chief's warning of strategic threat posed by the country

China's Foreign Ministry on Wednesday voiced strong opposition to the Canadian spy chief's warning of the strategic threat posed by China, and urged Canadian politicians to stop spreading "alarmist remarks".

During a speech on Tuesday, David Vigneault, the head of Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), said the Chinese government was using "all elements of state power" to carry out activities that were "a direct threat" to Canada's national security and sovereignty.

Vigneault highlighted alleged activities in the economic and military fields.

In his speech, Vigneault said China has routinely threatened and intimidated the country's dissidents around the world, including those in Canada, with a covert operation, known as Fox Hunt, that is allegedly targeting corruption.

Speaking at the daily briefing in Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said China adhered to the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries and would would never do things like "arresting citizens of a third country for no reason on the behest of other countries".

Wang also called again on Washington to invite World Health Organization experts to the U.S. for a virus-tracing investigation.

A closely-watched visit by a WHO team to Wuhan - the Chinese city where the first coronavirus cases were discovered - did not dramatically change the current understanding of the early days of the pandemic, said the leader of the WHO mission.

U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price has said the U.S. looked forward to seeing the report and the underlying data from the WHO investigation.

Separately, Wang dismissed rumours that China was sending equipment and experts to Myanmar to build an internet firewall for the military government.

Wang stressed China is concerned about the situation in Myanmar and hoped people will "not believe these untrue claims easily."

Over the weekend Myanmar's military temporarily cut internet access and some phone services as they faced a rising tide of protest over their coup that toppled Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government.

Image credit: AP