IAN C. MacLEOD: Canadian governments should have smartened up decades ago, but monied interests always overrode Canadian sovereignty and security issues

 

Chinese Consulates task Chinese students in aggressive intelligence ops: Canadian intelligence

 

Beijing’s top diplomats in Canada are tasking and likely funding Chinese student associations in aggressive intelligence operations that include “monitoring and coercing” other students and university officials, Canadian intelligence documents allege.

 

According to CSIS investigations, these operations include a Consul General tasking Chinese students to investigate and gather intelligence on the family of an alleged Chinese economic fugitive. (CLICK HERE to read the rest of the story)

 

 

This is all very disturbing. Sadly, it is not new, and not confined to the current government.

 

Frighteningly, it has been a fact of Canadian business, academia, media and politics for decades (about 50 years, at least, not just the current government – look at the pro-China influence and reach of the Desmarais family and Power Corp, behind Prime Ministers Mulroney (Progressive Conservative), Martin (Liberal) and Chretien (Liberal)).

The Chinese government's reach into the businesses, universities, media and politics throughout the Western world is deep and insidious. (No doubt that attempts at influence also apply to the Americans, Russians, Israelis and more.)

The Canadian government (both Liberal and Conservative) should have smartened up decades ago, but monied interests always overrode Canadian sovereignty and security issues. 

Here are three quite recent books that I have recently read that cover some of China’s insidious and dangerous interference:  

 

► Claws of the Panda - Beijing's Campaign of Influence and Intimidation in Canada; Manthorpe, Jonathan (2019) - it touches on both the Conservatives and the Liberals.

 

► Hidden Hand: Exposing How the Chinese Communist Party is Reshaping the World; Hamilton, Clive (2020)

 

► Wilful Blindness: How a Network of Narcos, Tycoons and CCP Agents Infiltrated the West; Cooper, Sam (2021) This book looks deeply at money laundering in Richmond/Vancouver.  

 

The titles speak for themselves.

And for a certainty American corporate interests (and most likely political ones as well) constantly attempt to influence (interfere with) Canadian interests.
Undoubtedly the same applies with many other foreign players, including the Russians, Iranians, Israelis, Germans, French, British and on and on.  As always, follow the money and political self interests.

Hopefully, the political, money, academia and media powers that be wake up while we still have some independence and sovereignty left.

And importantly, it goes way beyond just self-serving political chest thumping and partisanship. Every player -- and influencer (political, business, academia, media) -- must have a deep look into their own mirrors, both today and over the past 50 years.

 

 

ABOUT IAN MACLEOD:

Ian is a retired lawyer. Before law, he spent 15 years as a BC banker (4 as a small-town branch manager). He has lived or worked in 17 communities of all sizes ... 14 in BC, two in Nova Scotia, and one in Quebec.

He has been very involved in the volunteer leadership of over 40 organizations, heading 14 of them - including the BC Chamber of Commerce (1992-1993), the Clan MacLeod Societies of Canada (2004-2008) and the Richmond Aquatics Advisory Board (2008--2018).

He has written widely on public policy issues, and has received several awards, including the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal (2002).