Canadian human rights organizations, including the Canadian Friends of Hong Kong and the Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project, are boycotting a federal public inquiry into foreign interference, citing concerns over the participation and special status granted to three pro-Beijing politicians. These groups argue that the inquiry's structure exposes victims of Chinese government persecution to further danger. Critics, such as Charles Burton of the Macdonald-Laurier Institute and Mehmet Tohti of the Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project, highlight structural flaws in the inquiry that could inadvertently aid Chinese transnational repression. The article also discusses the complex connections between Commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and the Liberal Party, raising questions about the inquiry's impartiality. Human rights activists like Ivy Li and former Alberta MLA Joseph Shi express skepticism about the inquiry's effectiveness in addressing Chinese interference.

A Chinese woman, Jing Zhang, who worked for China's Overseas Chinese Affairs Office (OCAO) for many years, has been expelled from Canada after being linked to espionage activities that threaten Canadian interests. The expulsion comes amid heightened scrutiny of foreign interference in Canada, coinciding with the start of public hearings on the matter. The OCAO, now part of the United Front Work Department, is accused of infiltrating various countries to monitor and threaten groups such as Uyghurs, Hong Kongers, Taiwanese, and political dissidents. The case has sparked a strong reaction in Canada, with calls for a more comprehensive review of individuals suspected of threatening national security. The decision to expel Zhang is seen as a positive step by some in the Chinese community, who view it as a deterrent to future similar activities by the Chinese government.

Canada-China relations have been tense over the past few years, with incidents such as public reprimands by Chinese officials, the Meng Wanzhou case, allegations of Chinese interference in Canadian elections, and mutual expulsion of diplomats. Looking ahead to 2024, experts predict a bleak outlook for improvement in bilateral relations. Despite recent diplomatic communications, Canada must balance engagement with China while upholding its values and principles. Trade between the two nations remains strong despite diplomatic tensions. The public investigation into Chinese interference in Canadian affairs is a significant development, with the preliminary report expected before the 2025 elections. The outcome of this investigation is uncertain, and the Canadian community is closely watching. Canada's relationship with Taiwan is also evolving, with Canada expressing support for Taiwan's new president and continuing trade, particularly in technology and renewable energy sectors. Canada's Indo-Pacific strategy and 'friend-shoring' policy aim to strengthen ties with democratic nations and address challenges posed by China's global conduct.

Canadian Senator Victor Oh is planning to establish a foundation to fund legal actions against those he accuses of smearing Chinese people, including Canadian politicians and journalists. This was announced at a Montreal event organized by the MCCUC to discuss the Chinese Exclusion Act's 100th anniversary and protest against a proposed foreign agent registry. Oh aims to use the foundation to provide scholarships for Chinese Canadians in politics and to support legal actions against perceived slanders. He also criticized the public's reaction to David Johnston’s report on foreign interference. Senators Oh and Yuen Pau Woo have been noted for echoing Beijing's positions and opposing Canadian Senate motions critical of China. The article also discusses the activities of pro-Beijing community leaders and Richard Yuan, a Chinese Australian businessman who has won legal disputes with Australian media and is seen as a model for similar actions in Canada.

The article discusses a disinformation campaign alleging that NATO donated HIV and hepatitis-infected blood to Ukraine. The claim, spread by a Weibo influencer and a pro-Putin Telegram channel, Breaking Mash, was debunked by the Asia Fact Check Lab and the Ukraine-based organization StopFake. The Ukrainian Ministry of Health refuted the allegations, stating that all donor blood in Ukraine comes from within the country and meets European standards. The article also touches on the history of Russian disinformation tactics, including the KGB's Operation Denver, which spread false claims about HIV in the 1980s. The article concludes that the claim about tainted blood donations is false and part of Russia's information warfare.

A Chinese student, Yuekang Li, was denied entry to Canada by the Canadian Federal Court due to potential espionage risks. The court emphasized China's use of students to steal high-tech information and suggested that Canada's counter-espionage measures evolve to protect national interests. Li, a graduate of Beihang University, had previously been denied a U.S. visa and planned to study microfluidics at the University of Waterloo. The decision aligns Canada's definition of espionage with the U.S. and may impact technological cooperation between Canada and China. It also prompts Canadian academic institutions to reassess risks and adjust admission standards. The ruling is seen as a step towards protecting Canada's national security and democracy against China's hybrid warfare tactics.

The article discusses the closure of a Canadian petition, E-4395, which opposed the creation of a foreign agent registry. The petition, initiated by Li Wang and sponsored by MP Chandra Arya, gathered 2,450 signatures, slightly below the average for Canadian e-petitions. High-profile politicians, including Senator Victor Oh and Senator Yuen Pau Woo, supported the petition, which was linked to the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Immigration Act of 1923. Critics, such as former MP Kenny Chiu and organizations like the Canadian Friends of Hong Kong, argue that the petition's low performance indicates a declining effectiveness of using race-related arguments to counter concerns about foreign interference, particularly from China. The article also touches on the broader context of foreign influence and the potential for a foreign agent registry in Canada.

Yao Zhang, a Chinese Canadian pro-democracy activist, was physically and verbally assaulted by three men during a rally on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. The rally, held on June 24, 2023, was to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Canada's Chinese Exclusion Act and to protest against Canada's proposed foreign agent registry. Zhang, who supports the registry, was live-streaming at the event when she was attacked. Despite reporting the incident to the Ottawa police, no one has taken responsibility. One of the assailants, identified by the OSINT community, has connections with China's top diplomat in Toronto and local politics. The incident highlights the tensions within the Chinese Canadian community regarding the foreign agent registry and the influence of the Chinese government.

Weizhen Tang, a Chinese Canadian who was previously convicted for running a $50-million Ponzi scheme, has registered as a candidate for the Toronto mayoral race 2023. His registration was confirmed on the City of Toronto's website and he was seen holding the candidate registration papers at the city hall. Tang, who was once a prominent figure in the Chinese Canadian community, was sentenced to six years in prison in 2012 for his fraudulent investment scheme. He has been permanently banned from trading securities by both the Ontario Security Commission and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Despite his criminal past, Tang has maintained connections with Canadian politicians and Chinese officials, and has been involved in various organizations, including the Hunan Fellow Association of Canada.

A fact-checking report by the Asia Fact Check Lab debunks false claims circulating on Chinese websites about Western doctors harvesting organs from Ukrainian soldiers in Bakhmut, Eastern Ukraine, and selling them in Europe. The report finds no technical, logical, or evidential basis for these claims. It highlights the complexity of organ transplantation, the lack of verifiable identity for the Dutch doctor Elisabeth Debru mentioned in the rumors, and the history of similar Russian misinformation narratives. The Mozart Group, a private military organization implicated in the rumors, has categorically denied involvement. The report concludes that the claims are false and part of a pattern of Russian misinformation.