Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) shakes hands with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ahead of their meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China August 31, 2016. REUTERS/Wu Hong/Pool
Terry Glavin, National Post: As Chinese money corrupts western politics, Trudeau's Liberals keep cashing in
We don’t know how much Chinese money came into the country for the purposes of influencing the last election...” Linda Frum said. “How much is going to come in in 2019?”
As Australia continues to reel from lurid revelations about the extent of Beijing’s influence-peddling, espionage and propaganda operations in that country, Conservative Senator Linda Frum says Ottawa should follow Canberra’s example by launching an inquiry into the extent of Beijing’s subterfuge in Canada, and by tightening laws to prevent Beijing from meddling in Canadian political processes.
“This is essential. It’s critical. It’s essential for Canadian political sovereignty that we examine this very, very closely,” Frum told me. “I think we need to look at it and I think we need to look at it urgently.”
It’s highly doubtful that we will, though. But first, a look at what’s been going on down under.
Read more ....
WNU Editor: I have mentioned in the past that the Russians are "pikers" when compared to the Chinese when it comes to "influencing" the policies and politics of Western governments. Case in point .... the Australian and New Zealand governments are realizing this only now .... Australia’s China corruption goes global (Macro Business). As for Canada, Canadian Senator Linda Frum remarks in the above National Post article is spot on. In the past I attended these rubber chicken dinners where Canadian politicians met Chinese businessmen who were hungry to network and build contacts .... and I know that both parties always left feeling very happy. I also know that this is just the tip of the iceberg. China has an enormous budget that is dedicated to buying and influencing foreign governments .... the UFWD agency is just one of many institutions that makes this happen. The solution to stop this is very easy .... ban all foreign money when it comes to fundraising, and ban government representatives and politicians from taking advantage of "freebies" that are always being offered by other governments.Unfortunately .... at least in Canada .... there is no interest in the government to make this so.
1 comment:
You just can't help but to have respect for Chinese pragmatism, especially in their foreign policy efforts. The Chinese can swing from emotional to down to earth and quite cunning at times. None of what China does is unexpected to me, but there seems to be huge gaps in US understanding of China and what Chinas goals are. The US smashes its head against the wall trying to get what it wants while China looks for weakness, really the path of least resistance.
Slightly OT. I know WNU Ed has experience with China as do I (some). I know well enough the ins and outs of Chinese thought (mostly) but it is next to impossible to explain it to many in the west. My Chinese friends and I just refer to "it's a Chinese thing" as shorthand because we both know things are often very different from the Chinese point of view vs the typical western view. Anyway enough of that from me!
Post a Comment