No edit summary Tag: Visual edit |
2605:b100:1115:7afb:49cd:6899:2049:1f55 (talk) Spurious claims, unrelated to the article Tags: section blanking Mobile edit Mobile web edit |
||
Line 30: | Line 30: | ||
O'Toole's beliefs were supported by Conservative MP and foreign affairs critic [[Michael Chong]] who stated that while the party was initially hesitant to blame China for influencing the vote due to inconclusive evidence at the time, he now believed, "The communist leadership in Beijing did interfere in the last federal election by spreading disinformation through proxies on Chinese-language social media platforms that contributed to the defeat of a number of Conservative MPs", citing a report by [[McGill University]]. Similar views were shared by O'Toole's director of parliamentary affairs Mitch Heimpel, who claimed Canadian national security officers had contacted the Conservatives around election day to express concerns about potential foreign interference. Heimpel also cited the example of former Conservative MP [[Kenny Chiu]] who had been targeted by a misinformation campaign on the Chinese social media platform [[WeChat]]''.'' Research into alleged electoral interference by McGill University indicated that there was no specific data to draw a full conclusion on the impact of potential interference and noted, "Canadian-Chinese issues were not central to the campaign nor were they top of mind for voters" but concurred that researchers had found Chinese state media had worked "with an apparent aim to convince [[Chinese Canadians|Canadians of Chinese origin]] to vote against the Conservative Party."<ref>{{cite web |date=January 4, 2022 |first1=Sze-Fung |last1=Lee |first2=Benjamin |last2=Fung |work=Policy Options|url=https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/january-2022/misinformation-and-chinese-interference-in-canadas-affairs/ |title=Misinformation and Chinese interference in Canada's affairs |access-date=2022-06-09 |archive-date=June 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220609175706/https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/january-2022/misinformation-and-chinese-interference-in-canadas-affairs/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=June 8, 2022 |first1=Andy |last1=Blatchford |work=Politico |location=Ottawa |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/06/08/otoole-canada-election-interference-00038297 |title=O'Toole blames China for Conservative election results |access-date=2022-06-09 |archive-date=June 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220610005537/https://www.politico.com/news/2022/06/08/otoole-canada-election-interference-00038297 |url-status=live }}</ref> |
O'Toole's beliefs were supported by Conservative MP and foreign affairs critic [[Michael Chong]] who stated that while the party was initially hesitant to blame China for influencing the vote due to inconclusive evidence at the time, he now believed, "The communist leadership in Beijing did interfere in the last federal election by spreading disinformation through proxies on Chinese-language social media platforms that contributed to the defeat of a number of Conservative MPs", citing a report by [[McGill University]]. Similar views were shared by O'Toole's director of parliamentary affairs Mitch Heimpel, who claimed Canadian national security officers had contacted the Conservatives around election day to express concerns about potential foreign interference. Heimpel also cited the example of former Conservative MP [[Kenny Chiu]] who had been targeted by a misinformation campaign on the Chinese social media platform [[WeChat]]''.'' Research into alleged electoral interference by McGill University indicated that there was no specific data to draw a full conclusion on the impact of potential interference and noted, "Canadian-Chinese issues were not central to the campaign nor were they top of mind for voters" but concurred that researchers had found Chinese state media had worked "with an apparent aim to convince [[Chinese Canadians|Canadians of Chinese origin]] to vote against the Conservative Party."<ref>{{cite web |date=January 4, 2022 |first1=Sze-Fung |last1=Lee |first2=Benjamin |last2=Fung |work=Policy Options|url=https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/january-2022/misinformation-and-chinese-interference-in-canadas-affairs/ |title=Misinformation and Chinese interference in Canada's affairs |access-date=2022-06-09 |archive-date=June 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220609175706/https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/january-2022/misinformation-and-chinese-interference-in-canadas-affairs/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=June 8, 2022 |first1=Andy |last1=Blatchford |work=Politico |location=Ottawa |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/06/08/otoole-canada-election-interference-00038297 |title=O'Toole blames China for Conservative election results |access-date=2022-06-09 |archive-date=June 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220610005537/https://www.politico.com/news/2022/06/08/otoole-canada-election-interference-00038297 |url-status=live }}</ref> |
||
==History of Chinese political interference== |
|||
Following the [[2015 Canadian federal election|2015 federal election]], Canadian Prime Minister [[Justin Trudeau]] was revealed to have have been the guest of honour at cash-for-access fundraisers organized by individuals with extensive ties to the CCP.<ref name="GlobeCashForAccess1">{{cite news |last1=Fife |first1=Robert |title=Trudeau attended cash-for-access fundraiser with Chinese billionaires |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/trudeau-attended-cash-for-access-fundraiser-with-chinese-billionaires/article32971362/ |access-date=27 February 2023 |work=The Globe and Mail |publisher=The Globe and Mail |date=22 November 2016 |ref=GlobeCashForAccess1}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/chinese-fundraiser-trudeau-statue-1.3863266}}</ref> This included a cash-for-access fundraiser at the Canadian mansion of Zhang Bin, a Chinese-Canadian businessman who serves as a political adviser to the Chinese government in Beijing and a senior official in the network of Chinese state promotional activities around the world.<ref name="GlobeFreelandWealthOne">{{cite news |last1=Fife |first1=Robert |last2=Chase |first2=Steven |title=Chrystia Freeland rings national security alarm about founders of Canadian bank with suspected ties to China |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-chrystia-freeland-rings-national-security-alarm-about-founders-of/ |access-date=27 February 2023 |work=The Globe and Mail |date=23 February 2023 |language=en-CA}}</ref> In addition to political contributions, Mr. Zhang and his partner subsequently donated $200,000 to the [[Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation]], $50,000 for a statue of [[Pierre Trudeau]], and $750,000 to Pierre Trudeau's alma matter, the [[University of Montreal]]’s Faculty of Law.<ref name="GlobeFreelandWealthOne"/><ref name="GlobeCashForAccess1"/>Originally, Mr. Zhang had requested that the University of Montreal’s Faculty of Law erect a statue of Pierre Trudeau and [[Mao Zedong]], but this was rebuffed by the university.<ref name="GlobeMaoStatue">{{cite news |last1=V |first1=Nathan |title=Chinese donors who funded Trudeau Foundation wanted statue of Mao in Montreal |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-chinese-donors-who-funded-trudeau-foundation-wanted-statue-of-mao-in/ |work=The Globe and Mail |date=28 February 2023 |language=en-CA}}</ref> The donation to the university included the funding of scholarships bearing the names of the two Chinese donors, Mr. Zhang and Mr. Niu, that were designed primarily to help Quebec students study in China.<ref name="GlobeMaoStatue"/> Based on information from a source within CSIS, Mr. Zhang was directed to make this donation by the Chinese government, which promised to pay him back for the donation.<ref>{{cite news |last1=V |first1=Nathan |title=Chinese donors who funded Trudeau Foundation wanted statue of Mao in Montreal |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-chinese-donors-who-funded-trudeau-foundation-wanted-statue-of-mao-in/ |work=The Globe and Mail |date=28 February 2023 |language=en-CA}}</ref><ref name="GlobeMaoStatue"/> |
|||
Mr. Trudeau also attended a cash-for-access event at the Toronto home of Benson Won, which was attended by [[Shenglin Xian]], the founder of [[Wealth One Bank of Canada]], and several Chinese billionaires.<ref name="GlobeCashForAccess1"/> Mr. Xian is the founder of Wealth One Bank of Canada, a bank that Canadian Deputy Prime Minister [[Chrystia Freeland]] has accused of having close ties to the Chinese government.<ref name="GlobeFreelandWealthOne"/> According to two anonymous sources within the [[Department of Finance Canada|Department of Finance]], Wealth One and its principal shareholders are currently under surveillance by CSIS.<ref name="GlobeFreelandWealthOne"/> Another of Wealth One's founders, Mr. Yuansheng Ou Yang, was a member of the [[National People’s Congress]] and of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, a political advisory board for China’s leaders, according to information posted on the Wealth One website.<ref name="GlobeFreelandWealthOne"/> Also in attendance at the event was Ted Jiancheng Zhou, who has connections to high level Communist Party officials in Fujian province, where he was born.<ref name=GlobeTedZhou>{{cite news |last1=Fife |first1=Robert |last2=Chase |first2=Steven |title=Security experts question political influence of Toronto developer with ties to Beijing |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-security-experts-question-political-influence-of-toronto-developer/ |work=The Globe and Mail |date=3 December 2018 |language=en-CA}}</ref> Mr. Zhou also contributed to the political campaign of Liberal MP [[Geng Tan]] in 2017.<ref name=GlobeTedZhou/> |
|||
==Bribery of Canadian politicians and officials== |
==Bribery of Canadian politicians and officials== |
Revision as of 18:37, 2 March 2023
In late 2022, various media outlets around the world reported on a suspected attempt by the People's Republic of China to infiltrate the Parliament of Canada by funding a network of candidates to run in the country’s 2019 federal election.[1][2][3][4][5]
Alleged plot
The alleged plot to infiltrate the 2019 election was made public through a November 7, 2022, investigative report by Global News.[1]
Sources for the report said that a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) proxy group mobilized around CA$250,000 to fund the infiltration network through a staffer for an election candidate and a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, who both acted as intermediaries.[1] Recipients of the donations included at least eleven candidates and members of their campaign staff.[1] The sources also said that the candidates were members of Canada’s two main political parties (the Liberal Party of Canada and Conservative Party of Canada), and that some of them were “witting affiliates of the Chinese Communist Party.”[1]
Details of the suspected infiltration plot were reportedly presented to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and members of his cabinet by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) in January 2022.[1] CSIS reportedly did not conclude whether the suspected interference operation achieved its goals, but it did say that Canada was subject to more foreign interference attacks from China than from any other nation.[1]
Parties reportedly involved
Chinese Consulate in Toronto
According to the Global News report, the consulate directed the transfer of the funds.[1] The report also said that a member in the consulate directed a staffer for unnamed federal election candidates to monitor and interfere with their engagement activities. The interference efforts included preventing meetings with representatives of Taiwan.[1]
United Front Work Department
According to the Global News report, several candidates in the alleged infiltration network met with officials from the CCP's United Front Work Department. CSIS’s documents said the organization’s activities in Canada has facilitated interference operations by the Ministry of State Security, China's principal civilian intelligence agency, and that its members in Canada has operated from Chinese consulates in Canada.[1]
Reaction
When asked to comment on the disclosure of their intelligence reports to the press, CSIS said they had identified PRC foreign interference in Canada, which it defined to include election interference through covert foreign political financing.[1]
Prime Minister Trudeau said that although China has been “continuing to play aggressive games with our institutions, with our democracies”, his government has been undertaking measures to combat “foreign interference of our democracy and institutions.”[6]
On November 9, a request was made by a cross party group of Canadian Members of Parliament to convene an emergency meeting in order to discuss the interference allegations detailed in the Global News report.[7]
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated in 2021 regarding the alleged plot that, "I do not have any information, nor have I been briefed on any federal candidates receiving any money from China".[8]
Similar allegations of Chinese state interference
A year following the 2021 Canadian federal election, Conservative Party politicians, including former leader Erin O'Toole, blamed Chinese government interference as a factor behind the loss for the party. In a 2022 interview on the UnCommons podcast with Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, O'Toole opined that media outfits linked to the CCP could have cost the Conservatives up to "eight or nine seats."[9]
O'Toole's beliefs were supported by Conservative MP and foreign affairs critic Michael Chong who stated that while the party was initially hesitant to blame China for influencing the vote due to inconclusive evidence at the time, he now believed, "The communist leadership in Beijing did interfere in the last federal election by spreading disinformation through proxies on Chinese-language social media platforms that contributed to the defeat of a number of Conservative MPs", citing a report by McGill University. Similar views were shared by O'Toole's director of parliamentary affairs Mitch Heimpel, who claimed Canadian national security officers had contacted the Conservatives around election day to express concerns about potential foreign interference. Heimpel also cited the example of former Conservative MP Kenny Chiu who had been targeted by a misinformation campaign on the Chinese social media platform WeChat. Research into alleged electoral interference by McGill University indicated that there was no specific data to draw a full conclusion on the impact of potential interference and noted, "Canadian-Chinese issues were not central to the campaign nor were they top of mind for voters" but concurred that researchers had found Chinese state media had worked "with an apparent aim to convince Canadians of Chinese origin to vote against the Conservative Party."[10][11]
Bribery of Canadian politicians and officials
In 2018, Ted Jiancheng Zhou travelled to China with Conservative senators Victor Oh, Don Plett, and Leo Housakos and their spouses. On this all-expense paid trip, the politicians were introduced to senior Chinese Communist Party officials and fêted, including at a lavish dinner at the five-star St. Regis Hotel in Beijing.[12] John McCallum, who served as ambassador to China for the Trudeau government, is reported to have enjoyed $73,300 in all-expense paid trips to China at the expense of Beijing-friendly groups during his previous time in opposition.[13]
See also
- Foreign electoral intervention
- 2019 Australian Parliament infiltration plot
- 1996 United States campaign finance controversy
- Christine Lee
- Legal dispute between former New Zealand Members of Parliament Simon Bridges and Jami-Lee Ross which stemmed from a donation to Bridges by Chinese businessman Yikun Zhang
- Geng Tan
- Jian Yang
- Raymond Huo
- Dio Wang
- Sam Dastyari
- Zhang Bin
- Shenglin Xian
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Cooper, Sam. "Canadian intelligence warned PM Trudeau that China covertly funded 2019 election candidates: Sources". Global News.
- ^ "Trudeau accuses China of 'aggressive' election interference". BBC News.
- ^ "Trudeau: China playing 'aggressive games' with Canadian democracy". DW.
- ^ "China trying to gut Canada's democracy: PM". Taipei Times. The Guardian.
- ^ "China playing 'aggressive games' with Canada democracy: Trudeau". France 24.
- ^ D’Andrea, Aaron. "Canada facing 'aggressive games' from China, others amid interference report: Trudeau". Global News.
- ^ "MPs request emergency meeting on 'troubling' Chinese interference allegations". Global News.
- ^ "Trudeau says he was not briefed on federal candidates allegedly receiving funds from China". globalnews.ca.
- ^ Thomson, Stuart (June 9, 2022). "Conservatives lost 'eight or nine' seats in last election due to Chinese interference, says O'Toole". The Hub. Archived from the original on July 29, 2022. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
- ^ Lee, Sze-Fung; Fung, Benjamin (January 4, 2022). "Misinformation and Chinese interference in Canada's affairs". Policy Options. Archived from the original on June 9, 2022. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
- ^ Blatchford, Andy (June 8, 2022). "O'Toole blames China for Conservative election results". Politico. Ottawa. Archived from the original on June 10, 2022. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
GlobeTedZhou
was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Fife, Robert; Chase, Steven; VanderKlippe, Nathan (25 January 2019). "Ottawa's man in China: Who was McCallum and what was his strategy?". The Globe and Mail.