After a media report indicated that there had been foreign meddling in the Canadian election, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada sounded the alarm that China is engaging in “hostile games” with the democracy and institutions of his country.
Trudeau’s remarks came days after the authorities launched an investigation into “illegal Chinese police stations” in the Toronto area to track Chinese dissidents and opponents, and after a report by the local “Global News” on the funding of Beijing’s “secret network” of candidates in recent elections.
“We have taken important measures to enhance the integrity of our electoral operations and systems, and we will continue to make efforts to combat interference in the elections and foreign interference in our democracies and institutions,” Trudeau told reporters.
“Unfortunately, we see nations and global players from all over the world, including China, continue to play acrimonious games with our institutions and democracies.
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Unnamed sources were cited by “Global News” as saying that the Canadian intelligence agencies had told the Trudeau administration that China was trying to undermine or influence the country’s democratic process.
According to the station’s report, Beijing used money to support at least 11 candidates in the elections, in addition to Chinese agents who served as activists in their election campaigns, through an Ontario deputy and others.
In order to have an impact on policies, he continued, Beijing aimed to place clients in the offices of lawmakers.
Trudeau: China manipulates Canadian democracy in a hostile manner.
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