Parliamentary Committee Notes: Key Messages – China
Date: February 2, 2023
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Fully releasable (ATIP)? Yes
Branch / Agency: NCSB/PS
- As the Government of Canada outlined in our Indo-Pacific Strategy, Canada’s approach to China is shaped by a realistic, updated, and clear-eyed assessment, and it is aligned with that of our partners in the region and around the world.
- China is a complex partner, looking to shape the international order into a more permissive environment for interests and values that increasingly depart from ours.
- Canada will at all times unapologetically defend our national interest, be it with regards to the global rules that govern global trade, international human rights, or navigation and overflight rights. We will challenge China when we ought to. And we will cooperate with China when we must.
- Specifically with respect to Canada’s national security, we will never accept infringements on the safety and security of our democratic institutions, our communities, and our economic prosperity.
- We will not tolerate attempts by any foreign state to threaten and intimidate individuals in Canada, their families, communities, or their relatives abroad.
- Departments and Agencies across government work to support an integrated government responses by monitoring and reporting on threats, and providing advice to ensure the continued protection of our democracy.
- The RCMP in particular is responsible for ensuring public safety by investigating incidents of foreign interference across Canada as well as illegal activities relating to state-backed threats targeting communities and members of the public.
- Anyone who feels threatened online or in person, should report these incidents to their local police. If someone in the public is in immediate danger, they should call 9-1-1 or contact their local police. Individuals may also contact the RCMP National Security Information Network by phone at 1-800-420-5805 or by email at RCMP.NSIN-RISN.GRC@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
- If pressed on the subject of People’s Republic of China (PRC)
- The threat posed by the PRC, and its powerful security and intelligence apparatus, including malign activities targeting our democratic institutions, communities and economic prosperity, remains a concern for our security and intelligence agencies.
- One notable example of PRC activity is Operation Fox Hunt, a PRC global operation which claims to target corruption but is also believed to have been used to target and quiet dissidents to the regime.
- Those targeted may be unaware that they can report these activities to Canadian authorities.
- Anyone who feels threatened online or in person, should report these incidents to their local police. If someone in the public is in immediate danger, they should call 9-1-1 or contact their local police. Individuals may also contact the RCMP National Security Information Network by phone at 1-800-420-5805 or by email at RCMP.NSIN-RISN.GRC@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
- If pressed on United Front Work Department
- There has been significant media reporting over the past few years about the United Front Work Department. This reporting suggests that United Front Work Department activities include co-opting elites and facilitating espionage.
- While I am unable to discuss this in greater detail, Canada’s security and intelligence community is aware of this reporting.
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