cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/11407279

  • The People’s Republic of China (PRC) is the most active state conducting Foreign Interference (FI) activities in Canada, in scale and scope of activity. FI helps the PRC counter what it perceives as a concerted effort by the West to contain the PRC’s development.
  • PRC officials and proxies are likely to continue to conduct FI activities despite increased public scrutiny.
  • The PRC is likely to attempt electoral interference over the next year, possibly in the next federal election.
  • The PRC will almost certainly continue to engage in acts of transnational repression (TNR).

In its September report on foreign interference (FI), the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) said Chinese officials and proxies are responsible for planning, organizing, and carrying out interference activities in Canada.

CSIS said that China uses a sophisticated system of incentives and disincentives to condition targets to be responsive to Chinese state interests.

“Incentives include financial and status rewards, many of which occur in the PRC,” the agency says.

“Disincentives generally involve coercive practices, including visa controls (both to enter and to leave China) and monitoring, harassment and intimidation, punishing friends and family to deter specific activities.”

China’s goals is to “push Canadian politicians and decision-makers toward adopting pro-PRC positions and policies that run counter to Canada’s national interests.”

“The PRC will continue to target Canadian democratic institutions to advance PRC strategic objectives to the detriment of Canada’s interests,” the agency says.

The CSIS report also published its analysis about FI threats posed by India, Pakistan, Iran, and North Korea.