Toronto, December 9, 2024 – A new report, PRC Foreign Interference and Transnational Repression in Canada: Insights from Vulnerable Diaspora Communities, will be officially launched on December 11, 2024 at 4pm at an event hosted in Canada’s Parliament by the Hon. MP John McKay, MP Michael Chong, and MP Jenny Kwan. The report focuses on the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) covert campaigns of intimidation, manipulation, and disinformation targeting vulnerable Canadian communities, and presents recommendations and an innovative framework for preventing, disrupting, and deterring PRC transnational repression.
The launch event will feature testimonies from community leaders Mehmet Tohti, Sherap Therchin, and Gloria Fung, who will share their experiences of harassment and intimidation by PRC-linked actors. Their accounts underscore the personal and far-reaching impacts of Beijing’s transnational repression campaigns targeting Canadian Uyghur, Tibetan, Hong Kong, and Taiwanese communities.
Authored by Marcus Kolga, founder of DisinfoWatch, independent researcher Sze-Fung Lee, and international human rights lawyer Sarah Teich, the report draws from firsthand accounts of leaders in the Uyghur, Tibetan, Hong Kong, Taiwanese, and Falun Gong communities across Canada. It reveals the extent of Beijing’s efforts to silence critics, disrupt democratic processes, and advance its authoritarian agenda through tactics that include surveillance, harassment, and disinformation campaigns.
The report is part of a project led by Digital Public Square that seeks to strengthen Canada’s resilience to foreign interference and transnational repression. Digital Public Square is a Toronto-based not-for-profit whose objective is to rethink and redesign the way technology is used to support communities worldwide.
Key Findings:
- The PRC employs sophisticated influence operations targeting Canadian public opinion and policy-making.
- Transnational repression (TNR) tactics include threats to family members in China, cyber intimidation, and covert propaganda campaigns via platforms like WeChat.
- Vulnerable communities face ongoing harassment: among 25 diaspora community leaders we surveyed, 85% experienced or observed direct threats to activists and 80% experienced or observed threats to family members in China.
The report also highlights the PRC’s use of the United Front Work Department to infiltrate community organizations, media outlets, and cultural associations, leveraging these networks to amplify Beijing’s narratives while suppressing dissent.
“The report is an important insight into the techniques of the PRC to disrupt Canadian democratic norms, practices & principles while simultaneously intimidating diaspora communities,” said Hon. MP John McKay.
“This report demonstrates that the PRC’s foreign interference is not just a diplomatic or economic issue; it is a direct attack on Canadian sovereignty and democracy,” said MP Michael Chong. “We must ensure that Canada takes a leadership role in safeguarding vulnerable communities and protecting our democratic institutions.”
MP Jenny Kwan, stated that “the fight for human rights is more important than ever. We must be vigilant against attempts by foreign actors to coerce, co-opt, or silence our voices. The threat of foreign interference must not be allowed to deter us from standing with those who are fighting for human rights.”
Recommendations for Action The report proposes a robust framework to combat foreign influence and transnational repression, including:
- Clear legislative definitions of foreign interference and TNR.
- A coordinated “kill chain” approach to prevent, disrupt, and deter PRC operations.
- Enhanced digital security measures and reporting mechanisms for victims.
- Stronger international collaboration to counter authoritarian influence.
- Full implementation of bill C70.
