Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that achieving a political rapprochement with China is currently unfeasible, citing political decisions by the Chinese regime that have further strained its global relationships. “A rapprochement? No. Certainly not at this particular moment,” Mr. Trudeau said during an interview with Bloomberg’s Erik Schatzker in Singapore on Sept. 7. “China has made decisions over the past years that have made it more difficult—not just for Canada, but for other countries—to engage.” He highlighted Beijing’s arbitrary detention of Canadian citizens Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor. Their imprisonment of more than 1,000 days was widely regarded as an instance of China’s hostage diplomacy, in response to Canada’s arrest of Huawei senior executive Meng Wanzhou....Read more https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/trudeau-rules-out-political-rapprochement-with-china-5487880
China-based hackers impersonated American voters online and used artificial intelligence (AI) to create and promote divisive online content during the 2022 midterm elections, according to a report by Microsoft. The effort was part of a series of covert influence operations by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) intended to mimic U.S. voters from across the political spectrum and create controversy along racial, economic, and ideological lines, according to the Sept. 7 report. “Ahead of the 2022 U.S. midterms, Microsoft and industry partners observed CCP-affiliated social media accounts impersonating U.S. voters—new territory for CCP-affiliated [influence operations],” the report reads. “These accounts posed as Americans across the political spectrum and responded to comments from authentic users.”...
Taiwan has pledged to share with Canada its experiences in countering China’s foreign interference. Foreign Affairs Minister Jaushieh Wu made the offer during an exclusive press conference hosted by Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Sept. 6, as reported by The Bureau. Drawing upon Taiwan’s experience, Mr. Wu highlighted the issue of Beijing’s influence, particularly through its United Front Work Department (UFWD), known for its role in conducting foreign interference operations. He noted the UFWD strategically leveraged its resources, including people, immigration channels, and the Chinese diaspora communities, not only in Canada but also other countries, in efforts to achieve its objectives....