China is undermining Canada’s sovereignty, one step at a time

The Canadian authorities and the Communist Party of China (CPC) are at loggerheads over the latter’s alleged interference within the political affairs and electoral practices of the previous.

The rising pressure between the 2 nations grew to become obvious throughout an ‘unpleasant’ encounter between Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Chinese Premier Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the lately concluded G-20 summit.

“If you are sincere, we should communicate with each other in a respectful manner. Otherwise, it will be hard to say what the result will be,” Xi reprimanded Trudeau for allegedly leaking info to the media about their assembly that occurred on November 15 this 12 months.

Much to the disdain of the Chinese Premier, Trudeau defended, “In Canada, we believe in free and open and frank dialogue and that is what we will continue to have…”

Diplomatic relations between China and Canada have been going via a tough patch since 2018. Following the arrest of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou by Canadian authorities, the Chinese authorities held Canadian diplomats Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig hostage over ‘espionage charges.’

In a significant blow to bilateral ties, Canada shelved its bold ‘free-trade agreement’ with China in September 2020. The then Foreign Minister,  François-Philippe Champagne, had justified the transfer by citing the Communist nation’s coercive diplomacy.

Screengrab of the information report

“The China of 2020 is not the China of 2016. All the initiatives and the policies that had been put in place at the time – all that need to be reviewed. We’re looking at all of them with the lens of China of 2020,” he had stated.

In April final 12 months, Canada issued a powerful assertion condemning the brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong by China and additional ruffled the feathers of the Chinese Communist Party.

While the protected return of the 2 Michaels to Canada offered some much-needed respite in September 2021, issues went downhill once more over allegations of election interference.

Allegations of interference in Canadian elections

On November 7, 2022, Canadian media outlet Global News printed an article alleging that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) had briefed Justin Trudeau about covert funding to 11 federal candidates within the 2019 elections.

“The Chinese Communist Party…is using all elements of state power to carry out activities that are a direct threat to our national security and sovereignty,” CSIS advised Global News.

The information outlet additional knowledgeable that the candidates who obtained funding from CCP belonged to each the ruling Liberal get together and the Opposition Conservative Party.

Screengrab of the article by Global News

Earlier in 2011, a Conservative MP named Bob Dechert got here below the scanner over his relationship with a Xinhua News reporter, Shi Rong. A former Chinese spy Li Fengzhi knowledgeable that the “act of striking up a relationship with an elected official fits the modus operandi of Chinese spies”.

It can be believed that the interference of the Chinese deep State within the federal elections of 2021 led to the defeat of the Conservative camp. An evaluation by Rapid Response Mechanism Canada discovered that CCP supporters floated conspiracy theories that Canada will reduce all ties to China if Conservatives are elected to energy.

In this fashion, it deterred a number of Canadians from voting for the get together. Moreover, Conservative candidate Kenny Chiu, who had been vital of China’s insurance policies and proposed a Foreign Influence Registry Act (to publicly determine these appearing on international pursuits), grew to become the goal of a disinformation marketing campaign.

After shedding to Liberal Parm Bains by virtually 3,000 votes, his defeat has ‘raised the question of whether proxies for the People’s Republic authorities managed to affect the election,’ writes @tomblackwellNP https://t.co/54RWSBpkyX

— The Vancouver Sun (@VancouverSun) September 23, 2021

CCP bots created a story on Chinese social media platforms, specifically, Weibo and WeChat, that Chiu is supposedly towards China. This value him his MP seat as half of the electorates in his constituency comprised of Chinese Canadians.

According to The Diplomat, the ‘China factor’ contributed to the defeat of the Conservative get together. “While the three major political parties mentioned standing up against authoritarianism and China in their campaign platforms, the Conservatives had more proposals against China,” it reported.

“Those messages did not work well among suburban voters, particularly among voters of Chinese descent,” the information outlet added whereas highlighting plans of Conservative chief Erin O’Toole to sanction Chinese President, the chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Party Congress amongst many others.

This led to the lack of Conservatives within the Richmond Centre and Markham Unionville electoral districts, the place folks of Chinese descent represent 60% of the inhabitants.

Espionage, Chinese police stations and Canada’s fightback

China has additionally been utilizing conventional techniques similar to espionage to advance its pursuits in Canada. Earlier this month, the federal police booked an electrical car battery researcher named Yuesheng Wang (35) for sending commerce secrets and techniques of Hydro-Québec to China.

Charges have been framed towards him for espionage below the Security of Information Act. Our detection and intervention mechanisms allowed our investigators to carry this matter to the eye of the RCMP, with whom we’ve labored carefully ever since,” stated Senior Director (Hydro-Quebec) Dominic Roy.

A former worker of Quebec’s electrical energy utility charged with financial espionage for the good thing about China denied he was a flight threat and desires to remain in Canada to battle the costs. https://t.co/TZiWnRFLj0

— CBC News (@CBCNews) November 25, 2022

According to a report by Safeguard Defenders, Chinese police stations are working in three areas throughout Canada. This features a personal residence in Markham, a comfort retailer in Scarborough, and the deal with of the Canada Toronto Fuqing Business Association.

China’s official response is that the stations are set as much as assist expats renew their IDs or driving licences. The stations are reportedly covert hubs for China’s “involuntary return” program, which forces Chinese expats to return dwelling for punishment if they’re discovered to have violated Chinese legislation whereas overseas.

China’s goal behind working such unlawful police stations is to suppress anti-China sentiments internationally, to unfold communist ideology, make sure the Chinese expats who violated Chinese legislation overseas and intrude within the governance and democratic processes of different nations.

Recently, the Canadian police have additionally launched a probe into the matter. “Our aim is to prevent intimidation, threats and harassment as well as any form of harm initiated on behalf of a foreign entity being applied to any community in Canada,” the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) acknowledged.

Are we simply one other Chinese province below Trudeau? How is that this doable?

“China is extending the grip of its Orwellian police state into this country, with seemingly no worry about being confronted by our own national security agencies.”https://t.co/R1gyIya14a

— Maxime Bernier (@MaximeBernier) September 28, 2022

In November this 12 months, Canadian Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne directed 3 Chinese firms to promote their stakes within the vital mineral sector of Canada.

The firms included Sinomine (Hong Kong) Rare Metals Resources Co Ltd, Chengze Lithium International Ltd and Zangge Mining Investment (Chengdu) Co Ltd.

“While Canada continues to welcome foreign direct investment, we will act decisively when investments threaten our national security and our critical minerals supply chains, both at home and abroad,” he acknowledged. For many, the Canadian authorities’s motion towards China is simply too little and too late.