Canada’s ambassador to China says future investigations into foreign interference in Canada’s elections will be a difficult time for Beijing, but Canada needs to move forward with a balance of cooperation and resilience in its bilateral relationship. He said that there is.
In an interview broadcast on CBC Radio on Saturday. the houseJennifer May said the inquiry, which will run for several months with its first preliminary hearing held on January 29, will cover a wide range of issues from disinformation to espionage, many of which include He said that there is a possibility of it being viewed negatively.
“I think the reality is that this is going to be very uncomfortable for the Chinese government,” Prime Minister Theresa May told host Katherine Cullen.
May has served as Canada’s special envoy to Beijing for more than two years, and takes over the role after what may have been the worst period for relations between Canada and China in decades.
China released Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor in September 2021 after 1,019 days in detention, but attempts to repair frozen relations were rekindled by accusations of election interference that surfaced in early 2023. thwarted.
the house13:22Canadian ambassador says foreign interference investigation is ‘very distasteful’ to Chinese government
Canada’s ambassador to China has warned that future foreign interference investigations will create “very uncomfortable” moments for Beijing. Jennifer May talks about the difficult conversations she had with her Chinese counterpart and why she views Canada and China’s relationship as “complicated dance partners.”
Prime Minister Theresa May said the foreign interference inquiry is an important step in sorting out where Canada stands in relation to the world’s second-largest economy and second-most populous nation. .
“I think it’s important that as a society we can move past all of this and truly understand what this means,” she said.
The foreign interference investigation was launched following allegations of Chinese speculation in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections. Initially resisting opposition pressure to launch a Conservative-led inquiry, the Liberal government eventually relented and announced that Justice Marie-Josée Hoag would lead the inquiry.
Conservative MP and foreign affairs commentator Michael Chong, himself a target of allegations of meddling, has been given full standing in the inquiry, while the government opposition has been given intervenor status. . The NDP also received intervenor status, but NDP Rep. Jenny Kwan, who claimed to have been told by CSIS that she was being targeted by the Chinese government, received full party status in the investigation.
China has repeatedly denied allegations related to foreign interference or espionage.
Prime Minister Theresa May told Karen that Canadian and Chinese officials have had several tough conversations about foreign interference.
“I can tell you it’s difficult,” she said.
Jennifer May, Canada’s ambassador to China, said in an interview on CBC Radio’s The House that the hearing will be held because the scope of topics covered in the impending inquiry into foreign interference in Canada’s elections ranges from disinformation to espionage. He said it would be a “very uncomfortable” moment. For a rising superpower.
“As you know, we’ve had some pretty strong pushback from the Chinese side as well. These are open, frank discussions that we put forward. These are tough discussions, but it’s an important part of diplomacy. – Being able to have tough discussions is an important part of diplomacy.”
May sidestepped a question about the possibility of China interfering in Canada’s affairs in the future, saying the country should be ready to resist any threat.
“I think…the most important thing is that we strive to be resilient and resilient and to ensure that we have strong and robust democratic systems and processes. “No matter where the threat comes from, if we are prepared to withstand it,” she said.
“This is a space that changes and evolves.”
This week, the federal government Over 100 institutions named It says China, Russia and Iran pose “the greatest risks to Canada’s national security.” The government says the agencies on the list have ties to those countries’ militaries and national security agencies, and Canadian agencies affiliated with them will soon be ineligible for federal funding.
Prime Minister Theresa May said Canada is not alone in its concerns about industrial and technological espionage, and China itself has acted on these national security concerns.
“The Chinese also have no-go zones. They have their approach to this as well,” she says. “They have a very strong national security lens. The difference is that it’s not transparent and open.”
Rime Minister Justin Trudeau poses for a commemorative photo next to Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Conference in San Francisco.
Seeking a delicate relationship
Despite the challenges in the relationship, May spoke of a path forward for the two countries, with Canada working with China on some issues and opposing it on others.
“It’s not going to be completely…full speed ahead and everything will be positive. But just because we’re taking a step back in some areas doesn’t mean we can’t pursue positive areas of cooperation in other areas.” said Prime Minister May. .
“This is a complex dance partner, and anyone who’s dancing knows that sometimes they’re moving forward, sometimes they’re going backwards, sometimes they’re rotating. And that’s why I look at me and the Chinese dance. It’s a way of being.”
A federal judge has barred a Chinese engineering student from studying in Canada, citing concerns that he could be coerced into spying by the Canadian government. Experts say similar incidents may occur in the future.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Chinese President Xi Jinping have not held substantive talks in years. The two exchanged words briefly on the sidelines of the APEC summit held in San Francisco last fall.
Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly met with Foreign Minister Wang Yi earlier this month. After the meeting, Wang issued a statement claiming that the two countries have important influence in the Asia-Pacific region and that the two countries have no conflicting interests.
May says cooperation is possible on opioids.
One issue where there may be an opportunity for the two countries to work together is Canada’s toxic drug crisis. Canadian law enforcement officials have identified China as a major source of precursor chemicals used to make fentanyl, which is responsible for the majority of overdose deaths in the country.
“This devastation is incredible and the Chinese side recognizes that. We are facing an incredible crisis that affects individuals, families and communities,” May said. They understand that.”
“So the essence of the conversation that’s happening right now is how do we address this ever-changing issue and how can we work together. So China is engaging with us on this issue. This is good news.”
