Former Chinese soldier referred for hearing on whether he may stay in Canada

Rong Xiang Yuan, who is also known as "Tiger" Yuan, served in China's People's Liberation Army in the 1980s.

The Canada Border Services Agency, the border agency, has referred Rong Xiang Yuan to the Immigration and Refugee Board for an admissibility hearing. The Immigration and Refugee Board will consider whether Rong Xiang Yuan should be allowed to remain in Canada, according to The Globe and Mail.

The hearing will examine whether Rong Xiang Yuan may have committed war crimes while serving in China's army during a conflict with Vietnam. The Canada Border Services Agency made the referral under paragraphs 35(1)(a) and 40(1)(a) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the law that governs admission to Canada. No hearing date has yet been scheduled in the matter.

Rong Xiang Yuan was born in China in 1962. After leaving high school, Rong Xiang Yuan joined China's People's Liberation Army as a mortar operator. Rong Xiang Yuan was discharged from the Chinese military in 1991 following a serious injury. Upon discharge, Rong Xiang Yuan was awarded the Citation for Merit.

Rong Xiang Yuan emigrated to Canada in 2008 and later lived in the province of British Columbia. In Canada, Rong Xiang Yuan is the former owner of a gun store in British Columbia. Rong Xiang Yuan was a director of the Canada-China Association For Promoting Friendly Relations.

Daniel Reid, the lawyer representing Rong Xiang Yuan, said Rong Xiang Yuan denies involvement in war crimes or improper conduct while serving in China's military. The Immigration and Refugee Board has not yet set a date for the admissibility hearing to consider whether Rong Xiang Yuan may remain in Canada.