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The Globe article quoted Kenney, who raised questions about Chan’s commitment to defending Canada’s interests and human rights principles when they came into opposition with Chinese policy.

The story also said Kenney had been at a Chinese community event and witnessed Chan closing his remarks by pumping his fist in the air and shouting in Mandarin what someone translated as “Long Live the Motherland.”

A letter from John Chapman, a lawyer with Miller Thomson in Toronto, to Kenney claims the statements “and the innuendo contained in the statements are categorically false, as is demonstrated by the record.”

He requested Kenney publish a public retraction and apologize for his comments within seven days.

Chapman said that as of Tuesday, Chan had not yet received any reply to the June 30 letter.

Chan is out of the country on vacation and was not available to comment.

The Globe did not respond to request for comment.

Chan is also pursuing another $4.85 million defamation claim against the Globe concerning allegations he was susceptible to foreign interference.

The Globe’s editor in chief, David Walmsley, has previously told the Toronto Star: “We stand by the stories” and has since filed a statement of defence.