A Hogue Commission intervener argues that PRC-controlled media is fomenting division in Canada’s diaspora and skewing geopolitical views.

By Gabriel Yiu | The Bureau

Summary

For those familiar with Chinese-language media, is it an exaggeration to consider it a “national security threat”?

Gabriel Yiu of Chinese Canadian Concern Group, and an intervener in the Hogue Commission, notes one intelligence report is particularly striking among the thousands of declassified top-secret documents referenced by the public inquiry on foreign interference.

The report, writes Mr. Yiu, warns that the majority of Chinese-language media in Canada is influenced by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). CCP-friendly narratives dominate Chinese-language media, with pervasive censorship and limited dissenting voices. According to the report cited, the CPC’s strategies for controlling narratives and platforms include the extensive use of the messaging app WeChat, which can amplify misinformation.

Observations indicate that since Xi Jinping’s leadership, Chinese-language media in Canada has shifted significantly towards pro-CCP narratives. Notable programs have been canceled, and media owners often align with the CCP for business interests, leading to a sanitized view of events that aligns with CCP propaganda.

The resulting skewed portrayal in Chinese-language media affects the perceptions of Chinese Canadians, who may be unaware of the indoctrination they face. Reports of significant events, such as the Canadian Parliament’s support for Taiwan, are often underreported to avoid offending the Chinese consulate.

The CCP’s influence is seen as promoting division and conflict within Canadian society, fostering loyalty to China among Chinese immigrants and complicating the integration of Chinese Canadians into Canadian society.

The Hogue inquiry highlights the CCP’s interference in recent Canadian elections as a national security concern, raising questions about the awareness of Chinese Canadians regarding the narratives they consume through Chinese-language media

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