China’s efforts to undermine our institutions largely revolve around their ability to intimidate and coerce Chinese-Canadians.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says more must be done to protect Chinese-Canadians from the influence of the “Beijing Communist Party.”
Note: Describing the Chinese Communist Party as the Beijing Communist Party is likely an attempt by the Conservatives to separate their criticism of the CCP from perceptions they are criticizing Chinese-Canadians, though it’s doubtful how many fair-minded people saw the two as linked.
In his remarks, Poilievre explained that the CCP has sought to intimidate Chinese-Canadians – including through the use of foreign police stations on Canadian soil – and said any public inquiry into China’s interference in Canada’s elections must also look into those intimidation efforts:
“Beijing’s communist government has tried to bully Chinese Canadians here in their own country.
These great Canadians need to know that we have their backs.”
Beijing's communist government has tried to bully Chinese Canadians here in their own country.
These great Canadians need to know that we have their backs. pic.twitter.com/oTIcBRycTb
— Pierre Poilievre (@PierrePoilievre) March 2, 2023
Poilievre makes an important point here, and Canada would be wise to take action.
Both morally, and strategically, pushing back on CCP efforts to intimidate Chinese Canadians is a good thing.
From the moral perspective, we cannot in good conscience allow our own citizens to be intimidated, bullied, and coerced by a foreign power. The first duty of the federal government is to protect our national security, and that must include protecting our citizens from intimidation.
Strategically, protecting Chinese-Canadians from CCP intimidation is a necessary step in confronting CCP efforts to undermine our institutions. China’s efforts to undermine our institutions revolve around their ability to intimidate and threaten people within our own country, and if the government protects Chinese-Canadians our entire nation will be more well protected as a result.
Spencer Fernando
Photo – Twitter
