Liberal MP Shaun Chen has announced his resignation from the House of Commons, citing health issues that he says have made regular travel to Ottawa difficult. However, there are allegations he made multiple trips to China following his accident.

So why is it that the Scarborough North MP was apparently able to travel overseas while supposedly struggling to carry out his parliamentary duties?

pic.twitter.com/IRgYY3GoKU

— Shaun Chen (@Shaun_Chen) August 10, 2026

Chen, who has represented Scarborough North since 2015, will officially resign Aug. 15. He said a car accident in late 2025 left him with “significant health issues” that prevented him from travelling to Ottawa as frequently as required.

Parliamentary records show Chen spoke in the House only once over the past year.

Prime Minister Mark Carney thanked Chen for his service and wished him a swift recovery.

Shaun, thank you for your years of service to the people of Scarborough North. Your advocacy for young people and your work to combat racism have made a real difference in your community and across Canada.

Wishing you a full recovery and best of luck for what comes next. I know… https://t.co/6Bw6s8A3UL

— Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) August 10, 2026

However, independent researcher and commentator Andy Lee has documented WeChat posts and videos showing Chen apparently travelled to China at least twice after the accident.

In March, Chen appeared in videos alongside broadcasters Lee identified as being connected to the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Propaganda Department. Other influencer-style videos showed the Liberal MP eating and appearing in content posted by alleged CCP-linked accounts.

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Then, in late July, roughly two weeks before announcing his resignation, Chen was again photographed in Guangdong.

WeChat posts described Chen as participating in an “official business delegation” alongside Markham regional councillor Joe Li, including a visit to Guangzhou Nansha Port.

So, who organized and financed the delegation and in what capacity was Chen participating?

The controversy comes amid years of scrutiny surrounding alleged Chinese foreign interference in Canadian politics. A 2024 report from the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians warned that some parliamentarians had been “semi-witting or witting” participants in foreign interference efforts, including by China.

Previous controversies have also surrounded former Liberal MP Han Dong, who denied allegations concerning Chinese interference and left the Liberal caucus in 2023. Some of the claims surrounding Dong remain disputed.

Chen's health circumstances are ultimately only known to him and his doctors. But the contrast between his stated difficulty travelling to Ottawa and his documented international travel raises legitimate concerns for the constituents who elected him.

If Chen's injuries made fulfilling his parliamentary responsibilities untenable, Canadians deserve an explanation for how he was nevertheless able to travel to China twice after the accident — including just weeks before leaving office.