Canada tells of China-linked ‘spamouflage’ blitz on MPs’ social media
GuardianOCT 12 2023
An inquiry conducted by the Commissioner of Canada Elections has found that while China did attempt to sway the votes of Chinese Canadians against the Conservative Party in 2021, its actions did not break election laws.An inquiry conducted by the Commissioner of Canada Elections (CCE) has found that while China did allegedly attempt to sway the votes of Chinese Canadians against the Conservative Party in 2021, its actions did not break election laws.
The inquiry was particularly focused on the re-election campaign of former Conservative member of Parliament (MP) Kenny Chiu, who was elected in British Columbia's Steveston-Richmond East district in 2019 but lost in 2021.The inquiry was particularly focused on the re-election campaign of former Conservative member of parliament Kenny Chiu, who was elected in British Columbia's Steveston-Richmond East district in 2019 but lost in 2021.
The report concluded that China "leveraged" certain comments made by Chiu, which were then "amplified through repetition in social media, chat groups," and in Chinese media to claim the MP was stoking "anti-Chinese discrimination and racism."The report concluded that China "leveraged" certain comments made by Chiu, which were then "amplified through repetition in social media, chat groups," and in Chinese media to claim the lawmaker was stoking "anti-Chinese discrimination and racism."
This report is congruent with the broader relationswhip between Canada and China. For example, while Ottowa has placed certain economic sanctions on Beijing, it hasn't damaged the overall positive economic partnership between the two nations. The same goes for these inquiries, which are popular among the Canadian people and being conducted with the sole aim of finding the truth.
The conclusion of this inquiry goes against every piece of evidence. Canadian intelligence agencies, who are contolledaligned bywith the ruling Liberal Pary, were told about these attacks against their political opponents years ago by US intelligence agencies. It wasn't until court documents were unsealed in America that Canadians were able to see what their government was hiding from them.
ThereCanada's isbad-faith focusing on baseless allegations of supposed PRC interference in its elections harms relations with Beijing. This shows an 85%overreliance chanceon thatCanada's Pierredependence Poilievreon willUS becomehegemony. PrimeWhile Ministerthere is still a firm foundation of many issues to collaborate on between the Canada beforeand 2026China, accordingthese todomestic thepolitical Metaculusstunts predictiondon't communityhelp bilateral relations.