Justin Trudeau is under mounting pressure to explain how seriously his government has responded to the threat of Chinese interference in Canadian elections in the wake of damning intelligence leaks. Allegations that the prime minister’s government has failed to act on meddling efforts featured prominently in a raucous session of parliament on Wednesday, as concern over Beijing’s efforts to undermine Canadian elections continues to dominate the country’s politics. Earlier this week, Global News reported that, according to an intelligence report, “a large clandestine transfer of funds” was directed from China’s…
Tag: Americas
Growing numbers of Chinese citizens set their sights on the US – via the deadly Darién Gap
On the first day of 2023, Xu was in no mood to celebrate the new year. He had just arrived in the Colombian beach town of Necoclí along with dozens of other Chinese citizens, weary from a two-day bus trip from Ecuador. Their goal was the US via the Darién Gap, a roadless, lawless and extremely dangerous stretch of rainforest connecting South and Central America. He wanted to leave China far behind him. “After I leave the country [China], I have no plans to go back alive,” says Xu later,…
Canada roiled by leaked intelligence reports of Chinese election ‘meddling’
A flurry of leaked intelligence reports has reignited allegations that China interfered in Canada’s recent federal elections, kicking off a fierce debate over possible responses to Beijing’s meddling. But the leaks also run the risk of harming Canada’s reputation among its allies, experts warn, as the country’s spy agency struggles to respond to mounting public concern. Opposition leaders have pushed the prime minister, Justin Trudeau, for a public inquiry into how China attempted to sway the result of two federal elections in its favour. On Monday evening, Trudeau announced he…
Canadian Official to Examine Chinese Election Interference
Toronto — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday he will appoint a special investigator to decide whether there should be a public inquiry into reports of Chinese interference in Canada’s elections. Trudeau also is having a Parliament national security committee examine classified information on the matter. The Globe and Mail, citing unidentified intelligence sources, reported last month that China preferred to see Trudeau’s Liberals re-elected in the 2021 election and worked to defeat Conservative politicians considered unfriendly to Beijing. Opposition parties have been demanding a full public inquiry. Trudeau declined…
Reports: Canada Found, Retrieved Chinese Spy Buoys in Arctic
washington — Months before a Chinese spy balloon drifted across Alaska and Canada, the Canadian military discovered and retrieved Chinese spy buoys in the Arctic, a region of long interest to Beijing. The Chinese buoys were monitoring U.S. submarines and the melting of ice sheets. Retired Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Lieutenant-General Michael Day said the buoys would likely have been used to monitor U.S. nuclear submarine traffic in the Arctic, and for mapping seabeds and ice thickness. Beijing is eyeing the possibility of reducing shipping costs by traveling through Arctic…
Canada bans TikTok on government devices over security risks
Canada has joined the US and EU in enacting a sweeping ban preventing TikTok from being installed on all government-issued mobile devices, as western officials take action over the Chinese-owned video-sharing app. Justin Trudeau, the Canadian prime minister, did not rule out further action. “I suspect that as government takes the significant step of telling all federal employees that they can no longer use TikTok on their work phones, many Canadians from business to private individuals will reflect on the security of their own data and perhaps make choices,” he…
Controversy in Ecuador’s Largest China-Built Infrastructure Project
Ecuador’s largest hydroelectric power plant, the controversial China-built Coca Codo Sinclair project, with financing from China, is facing internal and external challenges. Néstor Aguilera reports from Quito, Ecuador. Videographer: Juan Carlos Játiva VOA
US, Canada Eliminating TikTok on Government Devices
Canada and the United States moved forward Monday with bans of TikTok on government devices. The White House gave federal agencies 30 days to halt the use of the popular social media app, implementing a ban approved by Congress in December. The U.S. measure has limited exceptions for law enforcement, national security and research purposes. “This guidance is part of the Administration’s ongoing commitment to securing our digital infrastructure and protecting the American people’s security and privacy,” said Chris DeRusha, the federal chief information security officer. TikTok, owned by Chinese…
Chinese-Owned TikTok Banned on Canadian Government Mobile Devices
TORONTO — Canada announced Monday it is banning TikTok from all government-issued mobile devices, reflecting widening worries from Western officials over the Chinese-owned video sharing app. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said it might be a first step to further action. “I suspect that as government takes the significant step of telling all federal employees that they can no longer use TikTok on their work phones many Canadians from business to private individuals will reflect on the security of their own data and perhaps make choices,” Trudeau said. The European Union’s…
How a Chinese cafe above a DIY store became the best place to eat in Canada
The checkerboard floors of Vancouver’s Northern Cafe are warped, the only views are of nearby industrial warehouses, and diners waiting for a table must navigate the hazards of an active lumber yard. And yet the tottering Chinese Canadian restaurant, with its red vinyl booths and mismatched porcelain mugs, is so busy on a weekday morning that a scattered line forms between pickup trucks and forklifts. The rickety structure of the eatery, which sits above a hardware store, holds the unlikely honour of being the best place to dine Canada, according…