RCMP foreign interference investigators visit B.C. friendship society | 24CA News
RCMP nationwide safety officers investigating China’s overseas interference actions in Canada had been on the headquarters of a Richmond, B.C. non-profit group on Saturday.
The RCMP’s Integrated National Security Enforcement Team performed interviews on the Wenzhou Friendship Society and within the surrounding neighbourhood.
At least a half-dozen officers canvassed the world.
They declined to remark, however residents stated police requested them whether or not they had seen anybody sporting uniforms, or witnessed suspicious exercise.
The police motion was a part of a wider probe, additionally underway in Toronto, right into a Chinese authorities marketing campaign that makes use of threats and coercion in opposition to group members, stated a supply near the investigation.
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The Wehzhou society was registered in 2001, and is a member of the Canadian Alliance of Chinese Associations. Its $2-million clubhouse at 4266 Hazelbridge Way was bought in 2011.
A director of the society confirmed police had been on the group’s “clubhouse” however stated he didn’t know why. “They came to the building and asked some questions,” stated Hua Wei Su.
“I really don’t know what to say, we’re really surprised,” he stated.
The director additionally rejected that the constructing was linked to alleged Chinese police stations working in Canada.
“It’s not true,” he stated.
Wenzhou Friendship Society web site.
The RCMP has been investigating what it calls overseas actor interference in response to China’s more and more aggressive makes an attempt to use Canada to advance Beijing’s financial, safety and political pursuits.
In specific, China’s highly effective safety and intelligence equipment has allegedly been trying to meddle in Canada’s elections, silence dissidents and intimidate group members.
The Spanish civil rights group Guardian Defenders has alleged that unofficial “police stations” working underneath Chinese authorities steerage in international locations comparable to Canada are getting used to “harass, threaten, intimidate and force targets to return to China for persecution.”
In current weeks, the RCMP has acknowledged it was investigating allegations that China operates “police service stations” within the Toronto space that have interaction in threats, extortion and intimidation.
The RCMP nationwide safety workforce has visited three places within the Toronto space allegedly concerned in Chinese police station exercise, and has performed a number of interviews.
At least one such police station can be allegedly situated in Vancouver.
“The RCMP is aware of reports of activities that are specifically targeting the Chinese diaspora in Canada and is investigating to determine any criminality related to this matter,” the police drive stated on Nov. 22.
“Our aim is to prevent intimidation, threats and harassment as well as any form of harm initiated on behalf of a foreign entity being applied to any community in Canada.”
Responding to the allegations, the Chinese embassy has rejected claims the addresses had been used to harass and intimidate the group.
Instead, the embassy insisted they had been group outreach centres for expatriates, and that “for services such as driver’s license renewal, it is necessary to have eyesight, hearing and physical examination.”
No prices have been laid in relation to the operation on the Wenzhou Friendship Society.
According to its web site, the non-profit group’s mandate is to “provide support and assistance to new immigrants to Canada and provide a platform for members to give back to the community as a show of gratitude for their new life in Canada.”
The Globe and Mail has reported that in 2016, the Wenzhou society’s Miaofei Pan hosted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at a non-public gathering at Pan’s West Vancouver mansion.
Pan supplied pro-Beijing businessmen an intimate alternative to rub shoulders with Trudeau, allegedly in alternate for political donations, the Globe reported.
B.C. company registry paperwork present Pan was a director of the Wenzhou society as of its Nov. 21, 2015 annual common assembly. He is now not on the board.
In 2018, the society additionally confronted allegations of vote-buying in three B.C. municipal elections. But the RCMP stated it was unable to substantiate allegations the society used WeChat messages that appeared to supply cash to voters in Richmond, Vancouver and Burnaby.
According to Public Safety Canada, China handed a National Intelligence Law in 2017 that requires Chinese organizations and residents worldwide to assist with state intelligence work.
A marketing campaign referred to as Operation Fox Hunt is allegedly a part of China’s worldwide effort to “silence dissent, pressure political opponents and instill a general fear of state power on Canadian soil,” the company stated on its web site.
The People’s Republic of China “uses Operation Fox Hunt to identify and try to repatriate individuals to China who they allege are corrupt. However, the program is widely believed to have also been used as a means to stifle regime criticism,” it stated.
Stewart.Bell@globalnews.ca
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