Activists say spy chief is right, China is spying

BRIAN LILLEY, PARLIAMENTARY BUREAU, 

FIRST POSTED: MONDAY, JULY 05, 2010

OTTAWA - Politicians of Chinese descent in British Columbia have demanded an apology from Canadian Security Intelligence Service boss Richard Fadden, but Chinese-Canadian activists were on Parliament Hill Monday to say his claims are true.




Supporters and practitioners of the Chinese religious movement Falun Gong say China is actively spying on Canadians.

"The Falun Gong practitioners have been the target of the Chinese regime's interference in Canada for over 10 years," said Lucy Zhou.

Zhou pointed to an affidavit signed by a former Chinese diplomat that laid out in detail how diplomatic staff are expected to disrupt Falun Gong activities and influence foreign media and political officials.

John Thompson, who heads up the Mackenzie Institute, a security minded think-tank, says China isn't alone in trying to gain influence.

Thompson, who is often called on by media outlets to offer up analysis, says he was offered $80,000 by a man tied to Iran's mission in Canada.

"They wanted me to publish a piece on the Mujahedin-e khalq," he said. "Iran is trying to get other countries to label it as a terrorist cult." Thompson says he turned down the offer.

Thompson says other countries involved in this type of activity include Russia, Saudi Arabia and even allies like France.

"The French play realpolitik and have always been very aggressive at industrial espionage," said Thompson.