Canada warned China to did not interfere in her elections during a rare meeting today between the defense ministers of the two countries, reported Reuters and BTA.
"I have raised concerns about foreign interference in all its forms, including interference in our institutions, including our elections, but also acts of collusion against the Chinese diaspora in Canada, (who are) our citizens,'' he said. Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair to Reuters on the occasion of his conversation with his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun.
Canadian counterintelligence announced in April as part of an official investigation that China had interfered the last two times the country had held parliamentary elections. Beijing rejected the accusations, Reuters recalls.
Last year, Ottawa reported that a Conservative lawmaker whose family lives in Hong Kong was the target of an online disinformation operation. As a result, Canada expelled a senior Chinese diplomat after an intelligence report accused him of trying to harm the lawmaker.
Blair said that at the meeting, which took place on the sidelines of the security conference "Shangri-La Dialogue" in Singapore, has also expressed concern to Dong about Chinese military activity around Taiwan following the island's presidential election in January.
Canada will increase its presence in Asia and has committed to "address issues where there are disagreements" with India, he added.
Relations between the two countries have soured since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said last year that Canada was "actively investigating credible allegations" that Indian agents were potentially involved in the June 2023 killing of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijar. , notes Reuters. Last month, Canada indicted three Indian nationals over the attack.
"There can be no tolerance for the killing of Canadian citizens on Canadian soil," said Blair. "However, I think (the allegations) have created circumstances where we can begin to address the issues on which we disagree and some of the concerns that India has also raised with us," he added.