‘Smears and baseless’: China rejects Canadian election meddling claims
- Chinese embassy in Ottawa says Beijing has never interfered in Canada’s internal affairs and has no intention of doing so
- Canadian public inquiry report says China is the most persistent and sophisticated foreign interference threat to Canada
“On May 3, the commissioner of Canada’s Foreign Interference Commission released its initial report, once again harping on the same old tune of attacking China for interfering in Canada’s internal affairs,” the Chinese embassy in Ottawa said in a statement on Friday.
“We express our strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to this.”
It said the report “smears China” by saying the country was the biggest foreign intelligence threat to Canada.
“China has consistently upheld the principle of non-interference in other countries’ internal affairs. We have never meddled in Canada’s internal affairs, nor do we have any intention to do so,” it said.
“We urge the Canadian side to respect the facts, abandon ideological bias, and stop groundlessly attacking China.”
00:44
Beijing says allegations of interference in Canadian election are ‘ridiculous’
It was written by commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue, who concluded that Russia, Pakistan, India, Iran and China were all “possible foreign interference actors in Canada”.
“Acts of foreign interference did occur during the last two federal general elections, but they did not undermine the integrity of our electoral system,” Hogue said in a statement.
The report said although more than one country engaged in interference, China “stands out as the most persistent and sophisticated foreign interference threat to Canada”.
“The People’s Republic of China uses a range of tools, including Canada-based proxies. These tools include the monitoring of diaspora communities and transnational repression; activities meant to impact the outcome of Canadian democratic processes (including providing financial support to preferred candidates); and clandestinely shaping narratives in support of PRC strategic interests,” it said.
“The PRC also uses its control and influence over Chinese-language media and social media applications, like WeChat, to assert influence over the Chinese diaspora.”
The report cited a number of cases in which electoral candidates may have been the target of interference because of their stand on China’s policies towards Hong Kong and Taiwan.
02:04
Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau alleges China interfered in 2019 and 2021 elections
In response, the embassy said Canada was the one with a “record of grossly interfering in China’s domestic affairs on issues concerning China’s core interests”.
“The report is riddled with contradictions and ideological bias and lacks credibility,” it said, suggesting the document was a “deliberate attempt to mislead the public”.
The report’s findings are preliminary, and a second report is due by the end of the year.
“That said, I do not think it likely that the main conclusions in this report will change,” Hogue said.
