Beijing ‘bussed China students’ in to influence Canadian poll

BEIJING allegedly sent a bus of Chinese students to support a Liberal politician as part of a campaign of election interference in Canada in 2019 and 2021, according to an official briefing.

Previously classified documents have been unveiled as part of a public inquiry into foreign meddling in Canadian polls.

The Globe and Mail reported that the bus allegation is included in a 2023 Canadian Security Intelligence Service briefing for the prime minister’s office on how Beijing had “clandestinely and deceptively interfered in both the 2019 and 2021 general elections”.

The document was in response to media reports that China was running a campaign to influence the 2021 poll. It suggested Beijing sought to inflict damage on the Conservative Party, which it viewed as more hawkish towards the Chinese Communist regime.

In 2021, China’s foreign interference activities “were almost certainly motivated by a perception that the Conservative Party of Canada was promoting a platform that was perceived to be antiprc”, the document said, referring to the People’s Republic of China.

It added that online and media activities were aimed at discouraging Canadians, particularly of Chinese heritage, from supporting Conservative politicians, including leader Erin O’toole.

Justin Trudeau, the prime minister, has previously publicly dismissed foreign interference reports.

The documents indicate Beijing was behind the chartering of a bus full of Chinese students who were dispatched to help Han Dong, a Liberal politician, secure his party nomination.

It suggests the students were put under pressure to do so and warned that “their student visas would be in jeopardy and that there could be consequences for their families back in the PRC” if they declined to support him.

Mr Dong has denied knowledge of nefarious activity. The Liberal party also allows international students to vote in party nominations where they live. Canadian intelligence officials considered it likely that China had provided $250,000 (£145,000) for influencing operations during the 2019 poll.

China has previously rejected accusations of interference as “baseless”.