Expert Calls for End to Communist China’s Influence on Canada

Arek Rusek
By Arek Rusek
May 1, 2019China News
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TORONTO, Canada—Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou is still awaiting her extradition in Canada at the request of the U.S. Government. Meanwhile, Chinese communist authorities are holding two Canadians in jail.

Canadian senior journalist Jonathan Manthorpe, author of “Claws of the Panda: Beijing’s Campaign of Influence and Intimidation in Canada” is an expert in Chinese Communist Party (CCP) infiltration. He says it’s time to expel Chinese influences and send a strong message to Beijing.

“The Chinese Communist Party does not believe in the rule of law. If your first reaction when you have [a] problem with Canada is to kidnap two senior Canadians, we can’t work with a government like that,” said Manthorpe.

Jonathan Manthorpe
Jonathan Manthorpe, Canadian senior journalist and author of “Claws of the Panda: Beijing’s Campaign of Influence and Intimidation in Canada” in Toronto, Canada on April 27, 2019. (Arek Rusek/NTD)

Canadian authorities arrested the high-profile Huawei executive, Meng Wanzhou, at a Vancouver airport in December 2018 on behalf of the United States. Meng is wanted in the United States on charges of bank fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud.

CCP officials detained the two Canadians shortly after Meng was arrested.

Meng is out on bail now, living in her mansion in Vancouver, waiting for her next hearing early next month.

Meng Wanzhou CFO Huawei
Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of Huawei Technologies Co. (C), leaves her home while out on bail in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on Jan. 10, 2019. (Ben Nelms/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Retaliation

“Two Michaels, they were picked up for no reason whatsoever,” said Manthorpe. “Michael Covrig is a diplomat, a Canadian diplomat. They have been held in solitary confinement; they have been subject to torture; they have been subject to sleep deprivation; they are interrogated for several hours a day.

“They are being charged with threatening the Chinese state, and have been held this situation for four months. They’ve only had one visit every month from Canadian diplomats. It is clear if you look at the record that they are prepared to give fake, televised confessions, and there would be some sort of spiral court case. They will be convicted.”

Protesters hold photos of Canadians
Protesters hold photos of Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, who are being detained by China, outside British Columbia Supreme Court, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on March 6, 2019. (Jason Redmond/AFP/Getty Images)

The United States and European Union countries have been supporting Canada, and call for the immediate release of these two Canadians.

Manthorpe wrote on Twitter, “Don’t let Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor be forgotten.”

Strong Signal

Manthorpe said Canada should expel China’s united front agents. This would send a strong signal to Beijing, he said.

“I think one of the things the government here can do, in response to the kidnapping of two Michaels, is to expel some united front operatives here,” said Manthorpe. “I think that would be a good signal to Beijing.”

Delegates applaud Xi Jinping
Delegates applaud as China’s leader Xi Jinping walks past after a speech in Beijing, China on March 20, 2018. (Nicolas Asfouri/AFP/Getty Images)

United Front is China’s state organization tasked with exerting influence through its networks in Western countries. It uses these to sway decision-makers to take a pro-China stance and to control Chinese communities abroad.

“I think the CCP has made a serious mistake, they have outraged many, many Canadian people, but … I don’t think Beijing knows how to get out so far, and this is going to affect China-Canada relations for a long, long time,” said Manthorpe.

Claws of the Panda book
“Claws of the Panda: Beijing’s Campaign of Influence and Intimidation in Canada” by Jonathan Manthorpe at a book signing in Toronto, Canada on April 27, 2019. (Arek Rusek/NTD)
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