In recent months in both Canada and the U.S., main media sources have been raising questions about China’s attempts to influence our elections. However, the involvement of the Chinese government abroad has taken a number of initiatives not only during elections but also all year round. Not only are they interfering in our affairs, whether through disinformation campaigns, illegal campaign activities or threatening and intimidating nationals of their countries who now live in Canada and the U.S., but also through so-called Chinese police stations. Both Canada and the U.S. have significant Chinese communities, particularly on the west coast and in cities such as Toronto and New York. According to the New York Times, Chinese outposts are suspected by the F.B.I. of conducting police operations without jurisdiction or diplomatic approval — one of more than 100 such outfits around the world that are unnerving diplomats and intelligence agents. Western officials see the outposts as part of Beijing’s larger drive to keep tabs on Chinese nationals abroad, including dissidents.
Declining to get into specifics, Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Brenda Lucki, went on record to stipulate that the RCMP is investigating four such Chinese police stations and that investigation is ongoing. Chinese personnel at these outposts have been known to carry out surveillance and to covertly harass both American and Canadian citizens of Chinese origin and Chinese nationals. Beijing on the other hand has explained that these police stations are meant to track down known fugitives abroad and force them to return home. In response, Canadian officials have called for China to shut down police operations in Canada. The F.B.I. has carried out at least one raid which was the first known example of the authorities seizing materials from one of the outposts.
Since national opposition parties in Canada have continued to call for a public inquiry into China’s attempts to influence recent federal elections, they have forced Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to at least introduce a review process to be carried out by an independent person with required and acceptable qualifications. This individual will determine whether or not a full public inquiry could be undertaken without disclosing on-going national security initiatives. No one denies that China’s evident attempt to influence our elections is a real threat to undermining trust in our electoral processes. The question then becomes, what can we realistically do about it? Expelling Chinese officials could be one means to get our point across, but could also lead to a diplomatic war involving the retaliatory expulsion of Canadian/American diplomats and officials. In the meantime, in order to ensure that our democratic ways are not undermined, one could begin by encouraging and supporting counter measures within both countries.
For example, when it comes to the spreading of misinformation, via the internet or other means, both Americans and Canadians need to be better informed as to where the information is coming from. In Canada, parties select candidates in each riding through voting processes by registered members. It has been suggested that the Chinese have sent non-citizens of Chinese descent to vote in constituency candidate meetings in order to support the selection of candidates who support China’s positions on Hong Kong and Taiwan. The solution appears to be simple enough! Party officials should only register Canadian citizens for voting purposes, candidate selection being a strong democratic process.
The last thing that Canadians and Americans want to do is take it out on our Chinese population in response to the Chinese government’s incursion into our democratic processes. Intimidation and threats of any community members is unacceptable to say the least, and needs to be investigated and stopped by our police and security forces. Due to the current tense relations between China and the West, one can understand why governments don’t want to get into a full out diplomatic war. There is little doubt that economic implications are enormous for both Canada and the U.S., particularly when it comes to China and trade. Nevertheless, we owe it to both our citizens of Chinese descent and to all citizens to make it clear that illegitimate activities by the Chinese regime need to stop. As citizens, we all have to do our part and become better informed about such activities.
FROLITICKS 
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