Keeping an eye on Communist, Totalitarian China, and its influence both globally, and we as Canadians. I have come to the opinion that we are rarely privy to truth regarding the real goal, the agenda of China, it's ambitions for Canada [including special focus on the UK, US & Australia]. No more can we trust the legacy media as there appears to be increasing censorship applied to the topic of communist China. I ask why. Here is what I find.
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported on Friday that the Chinese population fell by 1.39 million over the past 12 months to 1.408 billion as deaths continue to outpace births.
China’s population has been steadily declining since the 1980s, but the year 2022 marked the first time deaths outpaced births since 1961 when China was in the midst of the disastrous Great Leap Forward plan, which led to a famine in which an estimated 20 million people died of starvation.
Recent efforts by Beijing to slow down the falling birthrate have failed to slow what is a long-term trend, and the NBS acknowledged the country was facing several challenges.
“We must be aware that the adverse effects brought by the external environment are increasing, the domestic demands are insufficient, some enterprises have difficulties in production and operation, and the economy is still facing difficulties and challenges,” the bureau said in its report. approaches to increase the birthrate, from labelling single women as “leftovers” if they remain unmarried to making it more difficult to obtain a divorce or abortion, as well as offering couples subsidies to support the rising cost of childcare.
Marriages rose 12.4 percent year-on-year in 2023 following the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a brief rebound in births in the first half of 2024 in some parts of the country.
Last year was also the auspicious Year of the Dragon in China, which typically leads to a small baby boom across Asia, but experts say the overall trend is downwards.
China formally ended its “one-child policy” in 2016 that for decades sought to control the country’s growth, but it ended with a lopsided population due to a cultural preference for male children.
Families are now allowed to have three children as of 2021, but the rising cost of living in urban areas, a slowing economy, and a high rate of youth unemployment have made raising children a less appealing prospect for many young Chinese.
China’s economy grew by 5 percent in 2024, meeting government predictions, but gross domestic product (GDP) growth is expected to continue slowing down in the coming years.
Faced with a demographic crisis, Beijing has implemented new measures to gradually raise the mandatory retirement age from 60 to 63 for men, 55 to 58 for women in managerial and technical positions, and 55 for all other women workers.
China is not the only country in East Asia facing a demographic crisis.
Japan, South Korea and Taiwan are also experiencing population decline for similar reasons as China, including restrictions on immigration. China, like much of East Asia, also does not allow unmarried women access to fertility treatments, like IVF.
Did the Chinese people take the COVID vaccine?
COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in mainland China. As of July 2022, it is estimated that about 89.7% of the country's population has received a vaccine, and about 56% of the population has received a booster dose. A direct link between vaccines and China's declining population is slowly being established. China's population decline is a complex issue driven by demographic shifts, long-term policies, and economic and social factors, yet the issues of the vaccine seems to be a major one.
China shows a 0.6 cm spy drone that is smaller than your fingertip
June 24 2025
New footage from China’s PLA reveals a mosquito-sized micro-drone developed by the National University of Defense Technology (NUDT) in Hunan.
The UAV uses flapping wings, measures just over 1 cm, and is controlled by smartphone—designed for covert battlefield recon and special operations.
Experts warn the technology could redefine surveillance and espionage capabilities. Its size and relative stealth raise major concerns for urban intel gathering and tactical infiltration.
China has taken a giant leap in micro-robotics and military technology by unveiling a spy drone no larger than a mosquito measuring just 0.6 centimeters in length designed for stealth surveillance and intelligence-gathering operations. Developed by the National University of Defense Technology (NUDT) in Hunan province, this ultra-miniature drone mimics the appearance and flight of a mosquito, equipped with cutting-edge sensors, cameras, and microphones for covert reconnaissance. The drone’s design is biomimetic, featuring two delicate leaf-shaped wings, a slender black body, and three hair-thin legs that replicate the anatomy of a real mosquito. This micro UAV is capable of flying silently and almost invisibly, making it extremely difficult to detect by both the naked eye and conventional radar systems. In a demonstration broadcast on China Central Television’s military channel CCTV 7, NUDT student Liang Hexiang showcased the drone, saying, “Here in my hand is a mosquito-like type of robot. Miniature bionic robots like this one are especially suited to information reconnaissance and special missions on the battlefield.” The drone is controlled remotely, reportedly even via smartphone, emphasizing its operational flexibility.
Despite its minuscule size, the drone carries a suite of miniaturized equipment including ultra-compact cameras and microphones capable of capturing high-resolution images, audio, and electronic signals. Its stealthy profile allows it to infiltrate high-security or confined environments where traditional drones cannot operate effectively.
The drone is designed primarily for military intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, particularly in urban or indoor settings. Its ability to gather sensitive information discreetly poses new challenges for security and counterintelligence agencies worldwide.
While the drone’s operational range and endurance may be limited by its tiny power source, its suitability for precision espionage in sensitive areas makes it a formidable tool. The technology also raises ethical and legal questions about surveillance, privacy, and the potential misuse by state and non-state actors.
Notably, China recently revealed conceptual designs for a massive drone mothership capable of launching swarms of over 100 drones, indicating a multi-layered approach to future warfare and intelligence gathering.
China’s mosquito-like spy drone represents a paradigm shift in surveillance technology, blending biology and engineering to create near-invisible reconnaissance tools. While the device’s battlefield impact remains to be seen, its potential to redefine covert operations is undeniable.
China's Expanding Space And Arctic Reach Raises Western Concerns, Not Just Canada
OH CANADA! Fun fact China and Canada routinely conducted military exchanges. China would invite Canadian troops to observe exercises and vice versa meaning Chinese troops were very close to the US border at the invitation of Canada.
As the world moves closer to The Matrix, China is moving closer to Star Wars. The country's drive to gain autonomy in critical technologies has pushed it deeper into space, the deep sea and the Arctic, according to a new article from the South China Morning Post.
After the Yinhe incident and later exclusion from Europe’s Galileo programme, Beijing built the BeiDou navigation system, now a 64-satellite network used over a trillion times daily. This move from dependence to autonomy now defines its national strategy. Recent five-year plans highlight deep-sea, polar and aerospace projects as “forward-looking and strategic,” and aim to make China a “major space power,” including an “ice Silk Road” to strengthen its polar role.
Analysts say China’s capabilities now rival global leaders. Li Hanming says “China’s space technology is at the same level as other leading players, such as the European Union, United States or Russia.”
BeiDou sits alongside other global navigation systems, and Tiangong mirrors the ISS. Commercial progress is rapid as well: LandSpace is testing a reusable first-stage rocket, prompting US worries. Brigadier General Brian Sidari warned it would be “concerning once they figure out that reusable lift,” since it could enable large satellite constellations. China’s Qianfan system has about 90 satellites but aims for 15,000 by 2030.
SCMP writes that China’s Arctic footprint is also expanding. The Tan Suo San Hao recently completed another Arctic mission, with state media saying China is now the only country capable of continuous manned deep-sea dives in dense Arctic ice zones. New icebreakers, research stations and private cruise operations bolster its presence.
Europe fears it is losing ground; a Mercator Institute study warned that “China's footprint in the Arctic and space demands urgent attention,” citing risks to security and access to key minerals and energy. Katja Bego notes Europe’s slow investment has “helped open the door to actors with fewer scruples, such as China.”
Western confidence in its technological lead is starting to waver. Charles Austin Jordan said, “That sentiment is primed to turn very quickly … even moderate progress by China … could quickly ignite severe anxieties.” Chinese experts argue the fears are exaggerated. Shan Guangcun says China is focused on reducing vulnerability after repeated restrictions: “Breaking through in these areas means freeing Beijing from dependence on others in core technologies,” and “Ensuring technological autonomy … has become a cornerstone of national security.”
He attributes Western reactions to shifting power dynamics, ideology and real concerns, saying “Some of the West's anxiety reflects a natural wariness … some stems from ideological bias … some is based on genuine security concerns.” Li Hanming adds the US sees threat partly because “historically they themselves used space technology as a tool of deterrence.” Trudeau? Canadian Army Training China To Fight India?
14 Jan 2021
2025
Canadian soldiers no longer training Chinese troops,defence minister says
Harjit Sajjan Defence Minister, 2020
December 10, 2020
A report by The Globe and Mail on Thursday cited documents mistakenly released under access to information laws which said Global Affairs Canada pushed back at the decision by Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Jonathan Vance last year to cancel the training.
The training was set to see Canadian soldiers train Chinese soldiers in winter activities at CFB Petawawa.
The matter dominated question period in the House of Commons, with Sajjan blaming the former Conservative government for having signed a military cooperation plan in 2013 with Beijing.
“Because of the agreement that they had signed, this is one of the reasons why we actually changed our approach because of the concerns that the member outlined,” Sajjan said after Conservative defence critic James Bezan asked him to explain why Canadian troops would train Chinese soldiers.
“We will always stand up for Canadians who are arbitrarily detained. This is one of the reasons why we actually stopped our training with the Chinese.”
Bezan was previously parliamentary secretary to Rob Nicholson, the former Conservative defence minister who signed that agreement in 2013.
O’Toole, Freeland spar regarding Canada’s foreign policy towards China
The revelation came as Canadians across the country marked a grim milestone.
Thursday marked two years since Beijing arbitrarily detained Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, who have received only limited consular access since they were seized in December 2018.
Beijing has repeatedly linked their arrests with the detention by Canadian authorities several days prior in December 2018 of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou in accordance with the longstanding extradition treaty between Canada and the U.S.
American officials have charged Meng and Huawei with dozens of criminal counts related to allegations of skirting sanctions on Iran and stealing corporate secrets.
Kovrig, a Canadian diplomat, was on leave doing research work with the non-profit International Crisis Group as part of a team analyzing Chinese foreign policy.
Brittany Brown, chief of staff for the International Crisis Group, said the team remains “devastated” by his continued detention, adding it casts a discouraging cloud around global relations.
“I thought the worst-case scenario was three months, six months,” she told Global News, noting the group remains concerned that other authoritarian regimes will use the detentions as a model.
“I think we can all imagine those governments are watching it really carefully and they’re seeing that China has pretty much gotten away with holding two Canadians hostage for the last two years with very little impact.”
Charles Burton, a former Canadian diplomat in China and now senior fellow with the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, expressed similar concerns on Thursday.
He said the federal government’s response so far sends a clear signal to China.
“I think that all of these passive non-responses by our government is sending a signal to the Chinese authorities that hostage diplomacy works,” he said.
“And until such time as we make it clear to the Chinese government that they cannot menace and intimidate us through hostage diplomacy, they will persist with this policy of hostage diplomacy.”
Conservative leader Erin O’Toole called on the government to implement Magnitsky sanctions on Chinese officials, freezing their assets and finances here in Canada.
He also called the report of senior officials opposing Vance’s move to cancel winter training “disturbing.”
“China does not act like a partner or a friend,” he said. “Communist China acts against human rights and the rule of law consistently. … The government needs to wake up.”
Who wears earrings on parade & battlefield why Canada's new general of course.....Wow We Are READY!
Ian Dowbiggin: The mysterious Chinese-linked secretive cult that's taking over P.E.I. Canada
Allegations of foreign interference and money laundering have been building for years. Now, politicians and law enforcement are finally paying attention
Author of the article:
Nov 19, 2025
Buddhist nuns with the Great Wisdom Buddhist Institute stand in front of the institute’s new buildings in Brudenell, P.E.I
What the report did not say was that nowhere in Canada is that threat more glaring than on Prince Edward Island, Canada’s smallest province. P.E.I. provides a glimpse into how the controversy over the presence of Chinese Communist Party (CCP)-directed organizations warrants transparency and accountability, features that have been conspicuously missing in Anne of Green Gables land
That was the topic of an event in Ottawa on Oct. 8. Attendees included journalists, researchers, concerned citizens, intelligence experts, representatives from the Macdonald-Laurier Institute and former solicitor general Wayne Easter.
While the meeting’s participants talked about the broad national security threats that Beijing poses to Canada, they also spent considerable time discussing the alarming body of evidence suggesting that P.E.I. is the site of money-laundering, illegal land purchases and “elite capture,” all traced back to China’s Communist government. Easter, along with former CSIS intelligence officer Michel Juneau-Katsuya and former RCMP investigator Garry Clement, warned that P.E.I. could be used as a “forward operating base” for the CCP.
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The consensus at the Ottawa meeting was that, with Canada’s national security at stake, only a national inquiry could uncover the true scale of Beijing’s presence on the island. The story starts in eastern P.E.I. with five sprawling buildings and controlled-access compounds housing Buddhist monks and nuns belonging to a group called Bliss and Wisdom. Canada Revenue Agency filings show the two main monasteries have accumulated very close to $500 million in assets.
The first monks arrived around 2008, but now there are hundreds of monks and nuns, under the spiritual leadership of Zhen-Ru, an unordained layperson who, Radio-Canada reports, has links to Beijing. Although Zhen-Ru claims to follow Tibet’s Buddhist tradition, Tibet’s spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, does not recognize her.
Despite pressure from Islanders such as blogger and historian David Weale, the provincial government, media elites and other stakeholders have given every indication that they want nothing to do with the Bliss and Wisdom file.
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But the story has become too big to ignore. In February, after extensive pressure from citizens’ groups, P.E.I.’s government announced it was launching an investigation into the Buddhists’ land purchases. The government also ordered the regulatory commission in charge of land transactions to release the results of an investigation said to have been concluded in 2018.
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But a bombshell hit on Oct. 8. When faced with a subpoena issued by a committee of the P.E.I. legislature, the regulatory commission confessed that no report was produced by the 2018 investigation into Buddhist land purchases, despite previous assurances that such a report existed.
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In the wake of this startling news, P.E.I. Premier Rob Lantz asked the RCMP to launch a full investigation into what he called “allegations of foreign interference and money laundering” in the province, saying that Islanders “deserve answers.”
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Days later, yet another bombshell: the RCMP announced that it had already conducted investigations into allegations of money laundering and foreign interference on P.E.I., but that so far, “all investigations were concluded as unfounded.”
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The RCMP says that because of new information, it will review its past findings, but the statement has mystified many Islanders. For example, why has there been no announcement of these RCMP investigations in the past? And why were key witnesses and experts on the topic of Bliss and Wisdom seemingly not interviewed over the course of these investigations?
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A thick atmosphere of mystery and suspicion surrounds the story and there’s no clear resolution in sight. But with politicians of all stripes now calling for a federal inquiry, the genie is out of the bottle. Premier Lantz is right that Islanders deserve answers. So do all Canadians.
From Sidewinder to P.E.I.: Are Canada’s Political Elites Benefiting from Beijing’s Real Estate Reach?
This column by Garry Clementanalyzes a deeply reported investigation into the land acquisitions and foreign affiliations of the Bliss and Wisdom Buddhist group in Prince Edward Island. Clement argues that the federal government, law enforcement, and Canadian officials have failed to confront what he sees as a growing national security risk—including strategically significant purchases of critical agricultural land.
His warning is underscored by a recent CBC/Radio-Canada investigation, which examined Bliss and Wisdom’s extensive land holdings, financial networks, and reported ties to the Chinese Communist Party’s United Front Work Department—allegations the religious group denies.
That probe featured findings from Clement, former CSIS officer Michel Juneau-Katsuya, and publisher Dean Baxendale—all co-authors of the forthcoming book Canada Under Siege, which devotes entire chapters to these Prince Edward Island land dealings.
Readers should understand a crucial piece of context: Clement, a former senior RCMP officer, and Michel Juneau-Katsuya were central figures in thejoint RCMP-CSIS Sidewinder investigation of the 1990s. That probe examined how the Chinese Communist Party was infiltrating Canada’s economy—most notably through massive and suspicious real estate acquisitions in Vancouver and Toronto. Parallel investigations, including the RCMP’s Project Sunset, examined Beijing’s growing influence over Vancouver’s ports and critical infrastructure. Yet despite their explosive findings, these intelligence probes were buried or gutted. Now, more than two decades later, the same warning signs are surfacing in pastoral Prince Edward Island—and once again, the threat is being ignored.
OTTAWA — When our investigative team began looking into the Bliss and Wisdom Buddhist organization’s activities on Prince Edward Island, we expected a quiet story of land development and foreign investment. What we uncovered instead was a chilling portrait of political complacency, potential foreign influence, and the fragility of democratic accountability in Canada.
Over the course of our work, we tracked millions of dollars in unexplained cash inflows from Taiwan and mainland China, funneled through Canadian banks and into real estate and development projects across PEI. These were not obscure transactions—they were significant and frequent enough to raise alarms in any functioning system of democratic oversight.
And yet, those alarms never sounded.
Neither local politicians nor federal leaders lifted a finger. Some even appeared to benefit from the relationships cultivated with Chinese officials and members of the Bliss and Wisdom organization, whose quiet influence grew in tandem with land purchases and political access. The very leaders entrusted to safeguard transparency and public interest were, at best, disengaged, and at worst, complicit.
The RCMP, for its part, has thus far declined to launch a public investigation—a silence that is deafening, particularly in light of recent national debates about foreign interference in Canadian politics. How can we claim to take such threats seriously if a clear case of questionable foreign financial involvement in one of our provinces is allowed to pass without scrutiny?
What made this investigation even more revealing was the contrast between institutional inaction and the commitment of ordinary citizens. Residents of PEI, concerned about unchecked land acquisitions, foreign influence, and environmental stewardship, were the first to sound the alarm. They provided testimony, documents, and moral courage. They believed that Canada’s democratic institutions should still function as intended—on behalf of the public, not in service to silence or convenience.
In a time when democratic erosion often feels like a faraway problem, PEI is a case study of how it happens at home: not through coups or grand conspiracies, but through the quiet neglect of responsibility, the normalization of secrecy, and the sidelining of civic duty.
Our investigative team did what governments refused to do. We followed the money. We asked hard questions. We connected the dots. And while we do not claim to have all the answers, we believe this is precisely the kind of work that institutions—law enforcement, media, elected officials—should have done long ago.
Democracy doesn’t collapse overnight. It erodes when those in power forget who they serve. But it also endures, stubbornly, through the vigilance of citizens who refuse to look away.
It is time for accountability—not just from those involved with Bliss and Wisdom, but from the public servants who allowed this to happen under their watch.
Former CSIS, RCMP investigatorscall for inquiry into Buddhist monks, nuns' CCP/Chinese connections
June 16, 2025
About 250 people packed into the P.E.I Convention Centre in Charlottetown Sunday to hear questions about Buddhist monks and nuns living in the eastern part of the province — with many there calling for a public inquiry into the groups' possible connections to the Chinese government.
About 700 monks of the Great Enlightenment Buddhist Institute Society (GEBIS) and about 600 nuns from the Great Wisdom Buddhist Institute (GWBI) call the Island home.
Michel Juneau-Katsuya, a former CSIS intelligence officer, is one of the authors of the book Canada Under Siege: How P.E.I. became a forward operating base for the Chinese Communist Party. The book is co-authored by Garry Clement, who is a former national director of the RCMP's proceeds of crime program.
Juneau-Katsuya says it's time, based on their investigation, for the federal or provincial government to call a public inquiry. He also wants to see the RCMP launch an investigation.
"If you have honest MLAs, they cannot deny that there is something that has been going on for decades," Juneau-Katsuya said in an interview with CBC News.
'Identify what needs to be fixed'
"The public inquiry will exactly identify what needs to be fixed," said Juneau-Katsuya. "There's a myriad of things that can be done by establishing policy, rules, regulations, how the cabinet functions, how people are vetting during the procurement process, how people coming from abroad to establish themselves here will be sort of vetted."
Four Buddhist monks sat at the back of the room, closely watching the documentary Game of Shadows — which follows Juneau-Katsuya and Clement from Ottawa to Washington and from P.E.I. to Taipei. By times, the monks leaned forward, eyes glued to the two big screens in the front of the room, watching intently.
Eli Kingston, one of the monks in attendance, said he didn't hear anything in the documentary that he hasn't heard before — and added that anyone who suspects illegal activity should reach out to the RCMP.
'Nothing to raise any suspicion'
"I've been in the monastery for over a decade now, 12 years. I'm in charge for quite a lot of matters with the monastery, and in every meeting, every board meeting, anything like that I've been involved with, I have nothing to raise any suspicion," said Kingston, who was born and raised in P.E.I.
"No one's ever come to me and asked me to do things that are outside of my comfort zone ... I personally have not seen anything to prove that these claims are true." Joe Donahoe, who lives in Uigg near the Buddhist nuns, was at the book and documentary launch Sunday.
Donahoe also wants a public inquiry and is urging the P.E.I. government to put a halt to all land sales to the Buddhists until that investigation is complete.
'It has to have some teeth'
"A lot of the properties, the prices are driven sky-high and I can never see any of my children returning to the Island to own property in the Town of Three Rivers for sure, because they can't afford it," Donahoe said.
Russell Compton of Belfast, who is featured in the documentary, echoed the call for a public inquiry.
"If we have an inquiry, it has to have some teeth, it really does," said Compton, the husband of Darlene Compton, who's the Progressive Conservative MLA for Belfast-Murray River.
Former Malpeque Liberal MP Wayne Easter, who joined the event Sunday by video, also wants to see an inquiry.
RCMP doesn't investigate movements, ideologies
Cpl. Gavin Moore, media relations officer for the RCMP on P.E.I., said the agency does not comment on or investigate movements or ideologies. Its investigations target the criminal activities of any individual or group that poses a threat to the safety and security of Canadians.
"The RCMP generally does not comment on potential or ongoing investigations," Moore said in a statement to CBC News on Monday.
"If an investigation leads to the laying of criminal charges, the RCMP will confirm that an investigation has been conducted, clarify the nature of the charges laid and the identity of the individuals involved, as this becomes information in the public domain."
Federal matters involved, says province
CBC News reached out the P.E.I. government to see if it is prepared to launch a public inquiry.
On Monday afternoon, a spokesperson for the province sent an email in reply.
"Many of the allegations raised fall under federal jurisdiction, and questions about those matters are best directed to the Government of Canada," it said.
"With respect to land ownership, IRAC is currently conducting an investigation related to this matter, and we will await the outcome of that process."
China’s secret war in Canada
Dennis Molinaro’s latest book explores Chinese interference in Canada. [Penguin Random House Canada]
Dennis Molinaro is a former national security analyst and policy adviser for the federal government. His latest book Under Assault: Interference and Espionage in China’s Secret War Against Canadawas published on Nov. 18, 2025, by Penguin Random House Canada. This opinion piece, which briefly highlights the history and impacts of Chinese interference in Canada, was written exclusively for Legion Magazine.
The western world has been focused on the threat of terrorism for the past two decades and for good reason. The post-9/11 “war on terror” sought to combat and end a substantial peril to the West and prevent more large-scale attacks. It succeeded on several fronts, although the threat could never be completely eliminated. But when it came to the West’s interactions with nation-states such as the People’s Republic of China (PRC), they have been governed by a specific delusion for half a century. Canada, like the U.S., believed that if it did business with China, extended a hand of friendship, China would transform itself into a liberal-democratic country. Trade would lead to freedom. But Canada was wrong. Beijing never considered joining a liberal order and instead used Canada as a backdoor to the U.S. and as a means of exploiting resources and technology.
But more Canadians and Americans are coming to terms with the harsh realities they have ignored for too long. The stories of secret PRC police stations in the news a little more than a year ago weren’t a new phenomenon. The PRC had been interfering and seeking to influence the political and civic life in Canada for decades. And Canadian leaders have done little to deter adversaries from operating here.
But how did such a situation arise? To date, Canadians have had diplomatic histories of the Canada-China relationship but an intelligence history wasn’t incorporated into them. That’s necessary if Canada hopes to have a realistic appraisal and understanding of the relationship.
In October 1970, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau recognized the People’s Republic of China. Canadians incorporated the event into the narrative of Canada as peacemakers who brought an isolated country into the global fold. The truth is colder. Canada was useful. China was searching for a means to influence the U.S. into recognizing it and Canada served as an in. Chinese leader Mao Zedong didn’t view Canada as a friend in the western sense. He viewed it as a means of breaking the American containment policy. When Canada recognized Beijing, it abandoned Taiwan and accepted terms that its allies rejected. Canada thought it was leading the world. In truth, it was being led.
The problem with the Canada-China relationship from this point forward was that self-deception became ingrained and the standard operating procedure for Canadian governments. The China that Canada’s leaders saw and engaged with was one they invented in their own minds. They saw a potential market for wheat and potash. They saw a counterweight to the U.S. They convinced themselves that economic liberalization would inevitably lead to political freedom. They weren’t alone in this thinking, even the U.S. adopted it, though its defences against Beijing were more developed than Canada’s.
But the truth was that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) used western openness to build its economy and modernize its military. They used western universities to train their scientists. The West dreamed of partnership while China planned for dominance.
Dennis Molinaro is a former national security analyst and policy advisor for the federal government [The Documentarians/ Penguin Random House Canada]
Similar thefts continue today. The thievery moved from corporate boardrooms to Canada’s most sensitive laboratories. The case of the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg stands as a notable example of carelessness. The facility is designed to handle the world’s deadliest pathogens. Yet Canada allowed scientists with ties to individuals connected to the PRC military to work there. Ignorant of the security threats, Canada allowed the transfer of deadly virus samples to China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology.
The regime in Beijing operates on a concept of transnational sovereignty. It believes anyone of Chinese descent, regardless of their citizenship, owes their loyalty to China. By this logic, it doesn’t respect Canada’s borders as it hunts its critics in Canada. It harasses the Uyghur community, Tibetans, the Falun Gong, and Hong Kong pro-democracy activists and Taiwan independence supporters. It uses threats against family members back home to silence dissidents in places such as Vancouver and Toronto.
This is transnational repression. It’s a foreign state enforcing its political will on Canadian soil. When activists such as Chemi Lhamo run for student office in Canada, they face thousands of death threats. When Uyghur rights advocates such as Mehmet Tohti speak out, they are followed by strangers and receive ominous phone calls. and threats to their families in China. This isn’t community infighting. It’s a foreign government outsourcing terror to silence its enemies in Canada.
The United Front Work Department is an arm of the Chinese Communist Party tasked with influencing foreign elites and controlling the PRC diaspora abroad. Its goal is to make foreign decision-makers sympathetic to Beijing’s interests, and it cultivates relationships with influential figures at all levels from school boards to Parliament. In return, it expects support for China’s interests and silence on its indiscretions. During the April 2024 Hogue inquiry into foreign interference, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service reported that it believed China interfered in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections.
The government’s response to these revelations has been sluggish with a promised foreign agent registry yet to materialize. Canada can’t afford this approach any longer. The world has changed. The era of optimistic engagement is over. China isn’t a partner. It’s an adversary that seeks to reshape the international order. It supports Russia’s war in Ukraine. It threatens Taiwan. It spies on Canada’s allies. It steals technology. It interferes in democracy.
Canada needs a profound shift in how it views national security. It needs to enforce the laws it has and fund its military and its intelligence services so they can do their jobs. It needs to better protect its research and its critical infrastructure.
Most importantly, Canada needs to stop seeing the China it wants to see and start seeing the China that is. It must recognize that it’s in a conflict that the other side has been fighting in secret for 50 years.
Canada is currently seeking a re-engagement with China due to U.S. tariffs, but that shouldn’t come at further expense to Canada’s economic security and threats to its democratic institutions, its sovereignty and its people. Any new relationship must first recognize that Canada has been under assault.
Costs must be imposed on people secretly working for foreign states in Canada. Canada needs to protect its democratic institutions and processes. Canada can engage with China, but it must demonstrate it won’t accept being bullied and that foreign influence and interference won’t be tolerated.
All of this is possible and achievable when Canada stops looking for friends and starts defending its interests.
