At the Foreign Interference Commission, new details have emerged about Ottawa’s handling of illegal Chinese police stations. Despite Beijing claiming to have closed these stations, evidence presented at the commission suggested otherwise.
After Safeguard Defenders’ report revealed the existence of illegal Chinese police stations in Canada, government intelligence and diplomatic information was submitted as evidence. The RCMP officials testified about their awareness of these stations, with Deputy Commissioner Mark Flynn declining to confirm if they knew about them before the NGO’s report.
Following protests from Canada regarding the violation of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, diplomatic actions were taken to address the presence of these stations. CSIS and the RCMP collaborated on strategies to deal with the stations, suspecting them to be part of China’s broader anti-corruption and repression campaigns.
Despite the Chinese embassy claiming that the overseas service centers were closed, GAC continued its efforts to engage with other countries and demanded the cessation of any operations by the PRC in Canada. The government continued monitoring for any signs of activity from these stations.
In Québec, the RCMP disclosed an active investigation against community organizations suspected of hosting Chinese police stations. The handling of these stations was questioned, with the RCMP emphasizing their law enforcement approach rather than diplomatic efforts. Additionally, overt tactics like parking a mobile command center in Montreal’s Chinatown were employed. Uniformed agents visited various businesses to speak with the owners. According to RCMP spokesperson Sergeant Charles Poirier, the purpose of this initiative was to educate the Chinese community on what foreign interference looks like. Poirier mentioned that the investigation is complex due to cultural and language barriers, as well as a prevailing “climate of terror.”
In addition to this initiative, the police force launched an online campaign in Chinese asking for anonymous tips regarding any threats, harassment, or intimidation from the Chinese Communist Party.
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