"We understand there is retaliation, but we will not be intimidated, we will continue to do everything necessary to keep Canadians protected from foreign interference," Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa.

Canada expelled Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei over allegations related to foreign interference on Monday, and hours later, China asked Canadian diplomat in Shanghai to leave by May 13 in response to Ottawa's "unreasonable actions".

(Reporting by Ismail Shakil in Ottawa)