Liberal MP Denies Allegations in Report That He Was a ‘Witting Affiliate’ in China’s Election Interference Network

Liberal MP Han Dong is denying allegations in a Global News report that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office was warned by intelligence officials that Dong was part of a Chinese foreign interference network. The Feb. 24 report by Global News cited unnamed national security sources saying that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) believes Dong to be a “witting affiliate” in China’s election interference networks and advised the Trudeau team to rescind Dong’s candidacy. Dong went on to be elected MP for Toronto’s Don Valley North riding in 2019, and was reelected in 2021. In a statement posted on his Twitter account on Feb. 27, Dong said that all the procedures and processes related to his campaign and political career have been “continually, transparently and publicly reported as required.” “As a Member of Parliament I have the utmost regard for the integrity of our democratic institutions and electoral processes,” he said. “I strongly reject the insinuations in media reporting that allege I have played a role in offshore interference in these processes and will defend myself vigorously against such inaccurate and irresponsible claims that come from an unverified and anonymous source.” He said that his nomination and campaign teams “have found no indication of any irregularities or compliance issues regarding my candidacy or election.” Please see my statement below. Thank you. pic.twitter.com/5RADk5hDF7 — Han Dong (@handongontario) February 27, 2023 Dong, who moved to Canada with his parents in the 1990s, also said as part of his response to the allegations that minorities have been “marginalized” in Canada when it comes to politics. “Many of my constituents come from racialized and cultural communities, who have been historically marginalized from politics. In my career I have engaged and encouraged them to participate in Canada’s democracy,” Dong wrote. Allegations The allegations in the the Global News report include that Dong made frequent calls to Chinese officials and “was considered a close friend of the Toronto Consulate.” The report also cites an intelligence official as saying that Dong met with a United Front Work Department (UFWD) official in New York state while CSIS was investigating Beijing’s 2019 election interference. The UFWD is a Chinese Communist Party body that is used “to stifle criticism, infiltrate foreign political parties, diaspora communities, universities and multinational corporations,” according to a post by Public Safety Canada citing research by think tanks. During the 2019 election campaign, buses loaded with Chinese international students “with fake addresses” were allegedly brought into the Dong Valley North riding and “coerced” to vote for Dong’s candidacy for the Liberals, Global News reported. Global News added that according to CSIS, Dong was a “close contact” of former Ontario cabinet minister Michael Chan, “who is a target of CSIS.” Chan, who is now deputy mayor for Markham, Ontario, was allegedly the subject of a CSIS warning to the Ontario government for being under foreign influence, reported the Globe and Mail. Chan has sued the Globe for its reporting. Chan, who is now deputy mayor of Markham, said on Twitter on Feb. 25 that the Global News report is “an overflowing basket of lies and malicious insinuations.” Chan and Dong haven’t responded to requests for comment from The Epoch Times. Trudeau was asked about the allegations at a press conference on Feb. 27, but didn’t answer multiple questions on the issue directly, instead commenting on racism. “One of the things we’ve seen, unfortunately over the past years, is a rise in anti-Asian racism linked to the pandemic, and concerns being raised or arising around people’s loyalties,” he said. Omid Ghoreishi and Noé Chartier contributed to this report.