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China has denied claims that it meddled in Canada’s federal elections, calling reports in Canadian media that referenced intelligence papers “false” and an effort to “smear” Beijing.
In a statement released on Friday afternoon, the Chinese consulate general in Vancouver, British Columbia, charged that Canadian media had “smeared and discredited China” and voiced its “strong dissatisfaction.”
The declaration came after The Globe and Mail reported that Beijing had meddled in the 2021 federal elections, citing secret intelligence papers.
According to the newspaper, China’s government employed ambassadors and agents to spearhead disinformation campaigns to support specific Liberal party candidates against their Conservative rivals, the party thought to be more accommodating to Beijing.
According to a general statement from the Chinese consulate, the Chinese government has “made it plain on many occasions that China has always adhered to the concept of non-interference in other countries’ internal affairs and has never interfered in any Canadian election.”
The accusations, according to the statement, “will harm the friendship and interests of the peoples of both nations.”
A further call was made in the statement for “the relevant media to abide by professional ethics, instantly cease smearing and attacking China and the Consulate General, and do more good deeds” to foster better understanding.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau defended the legitimacy of the most recent polls, which his government won, when he was questioned about the issue on Friday.
He continued by saying that although he had known about Chinese efforts to meddle for “a long time,” Canadians could have “total faith” in the integrity of their elections.
An Ottawa parliamentary committee is looking into claims that China meddled in the 2019 election process to back 11 candidates, the majority of whom were Liberals.
Relations between China and Canada have been tense for a long time, especially since Meng Wanzhou, a senior executive of the Chinese conglomerate Huawei, was detained by Canada in 2018 at the US’s request. 2021 saw her release.
Four objects, including a huge balloon that US officials claim was spying for China and was shot down over North America this month, further strained ties.
On the sidelines of the G20 summit in Bali in November of last year, Trudeau claimed he had spoken with President Xi Jinping about Chinese meddling in Canadian matters.
Chinese officials chose not to disclose any specifics of the conversation.
