The Deputy Mayor of Markham, Ontario, and former Ontario Cabinet Minister Michael Chan recently visited China to meet with representatives of the United Front Work Department. This department has been described as playing a key role in foreign interference and is considered one of Beijing’s “magic weapons” for advancing the regime’s priorities abroad.
Mr. Chan’s visit was aimed at fostering economic and trade exchanges between Markham and the two Chinese cities he visited, Nantong and Zhangjiagang in Jiangsu province. Details of the meetings were shared on the Chinese social media platform WeChat by the UFWD branches in both cities.
According to the WeChat post in Chinese, Mr. Zhiwei highlighted the sister-province relationship between Ontario and Jiangsu province.
Related Stories
“For a long time, the two provinces have had frequent economic and trade interactions and close cultural exchanges, achieving fruitful cooperation in the fields of commerce, education, and science and technology,” the post stated. “These achievements would not have been possible without the active efforts of a large number of outstanding Chinese diaspora in Canada, with Mayor Chen as a notable example.”
During his visit, Mr. Chan explored opportunities for collaboration with multiple companies in the region, particularly in the field of plastic waste recycling machinery manufacturing.
UFWD and Foreign Interference
The Chinese Communist Party’s UFWD not only operates within China to suppress opposition to the party but also has a significant foreign influence mission. According to a report prepared for the U.S. Congress, the UFWD directs overseas Chinese work to co-opt ethnic Chinese individuals and communities living outside China, making it challenging to identify malign influences.
The U.S. State Department website warns about sister-city programs being potential targets for United Front infiltration into state, local, and municipal governments through various front organizations.
Reported CSIS Concerns Around Chan
Mr. Chan testified at the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions on April 2nd.
Since 2015, Mr. Chan’s name has been mentioned in media reports citing leaked CSIS intelligence on Chinese interference. He has denied any wrongdoing and has not responded to requests for comment from The Epoch Times.
Reports indicate that CSIS has warned government officials about Mr. Chan’s alleged ties to the Chinese Consulate in Toronto. The Ontario provincial government was also cautioned in 2010 about Mr. Chan’s potential influence from China when he was an Ontario cabinet minister. Mr. Chan has filed a lawsuit against The Globe and Mail for their reporting on these issues.
Andrew Chen contributed to this report.
Please rewrite this sentence.
Source link
