Foreign interference inquiry will be 'deeply uncomfortable' for Beijing, Canada's ambassador to China says

Canada's ambassador to China says the coming inquiry into foreign interference in Canadian elections will be a difficult moment for Beijing, but Canada must move forward with a balance of co-operation and resilience in the bilateral relationship.

In an interview airing Saturday on CBC Radio's The House, Jennifer May said the inquiry, which will hold its first preliminary public hearings on Jan. 29 and run over a period of months, willcover issues ranging from disinformation to espionage many of which could cast China in a negative light.

"I think there is a reality that this is going to be something that is going to be deeply uncomfortable for the Chinese government," May told host Catherine Cullen.

May, who has beenCanada's envoy to Beijing for over two years, took over the role after what may have been the lowest point in Canada-China relations in decades.

China released Canadian nationals Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavorafter1,019 days in detentionin September 2021, but attempts to thawthe frozen relationship were again undermined by accusations of election interference that surfaced in early 2023.

The House13:22Foreign interference inquiry deeply uncomfortable for Beijing, says Canadas ambassador

Canadas ambassador to China is warning the upcoming foreign interference inquiry is going to create some moments that will be deeply uncomfortable for Beijing. Jennifer May talks about the difficult conversations she has with her Chinese counterparts and tells us why she sees Canadas relationship with China as that of a complicated dance partner.

May said the foreign interferenceinquiry isan important step in sorting out where Canada stands in relation to the world's second largest economy and second most populous country.

"I think it's important for us to be able to work through all of this for us as a society, and to really be able to come to grips with what this all means," she said.

The foreign interference inquiry was launchedin response to allegations of Chinese inference in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections. After initially resisting opposition pressure to call an inquiry led by the Conservatives the Liberal government eventually relented and announced an inquiry to beheaded up by Justice Marie-Jose Hogue.

Conservative MP and foreign affairs critic Michael Chong, himself a target of an alleged interference campaign, has been given full standing in the inquiry, while the Official Opposition has been given standing as an intervener. The NDP also gained intervener status, while NDP MP Jenny Kwan who says CSIS has told her she has been targeted bythe Chinese government has full party status in the inquiry.

China has repeatedly denied any allegations related to foreign interference or espionage.

May told Cullen that Canadian and Chinese officials have had several tough conversations about foreign interference.

"I can assure you that they're difficult," she said.

Canada's ambassador to China says inquiry will be 'deeply uncomfortable' for Beijing

8 months ago

Duration 1:16

In an interview on CBC Radio's The House, Canada's ambassador to China Jennifer May says that the range of topics to be covered in an impending inquiry into foreign interference in Canadian elections from disinformation to espionage will make the hearings a "deeply uncomfortable" moment for the rising superpower.

"You know, we get pretty firm pushback from the Chinese side as well. These are open, they're candid discussions that we bring forward. These are tough discussions, but that's an important part of diplomacy to be able to have tough discussions."

May skirted a question about thepotential for Chinese interference in Canada's affairsin the future, saying this countryshould be prepared to resistall threats.

"I think ... the most important thing is for us to try to be resilient, to be able to push back and to be able to make sure that we've got strong, robust democratic systems and processes, so that whether there's a threat from anywhere that we're ready to withstand it," she said.

"This is a changing and evolving space."

This week, the federal governmentnamed more than 100 institutionsin China, Russia and Iranwhich it says represent the "highest risk to Canada's national security."The government says the listedinstitutions are connected to those countries' militaries and state security agencies and Canadian institutionsaffiliated with them will soon be ineligible for federal grants.

May said Canada is far from being the only country concerned about industrial and technological espionageand China itself has acted on such national security concerns.

"The Chinese also have their no-go zones. They also have their approaches to this," she said. "They have a very strong national security lens. The difference is that it's not transparent and open."

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In search of a nuanced relationship

Despite the challenges in the relationship, May talked about a path forward for the two countries which would see Canada co-operatewith China on some issuesand opposeit on others.

"It's not going to be a complete ... full steam ahead and all positive. But just because we have setbacks in some areas doesn't mean that we can't pursue positive areas of co-operation in other areas," May said.

"It's a complicated dance partner, and anybody who dances knows that sometimes you're moving forwards and sometimes you're moving backwards, and other times you're spinning around. And so that's how I see our dance with China."

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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Chinese President Xi Jinping have not had a substantial meeting in years. The two briefly interacted on the sidelines of the APEC summit in San Francisco last fall.

Foreign Affairs Minister Mlanie Joly did speak earlier this month with her counterpartWang Yi. After that meeting, Wang released a statement saying both countries have important influence in the Asia-Pacific region and claimed that the two countries don't have conflicting interests.

Co-operation possible onopioids, May says

One issue wherethe two countries may have an opportunity to co-operateis the toxic drug crisis in Canada. Canadian law enforcement officials have identified China as a major source of precursor chemicals used to make fentanyl, which is responsible for the vast majority of overdose deaths in this country.

"The scourge is incredible and the Chinese side recognizes that. They understand that we're facing an incredible crisis that's affecting individuals families, communities," May said.

"So the types of conversations that are being held now are really about, how can we get at this ever-changing problem and how can we work together? SoChina is engaging with us on this. That's a good news story."