IS China now spying on national elections in certain countries?
The question is rife once again in light of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s protest to Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang during the just-ended G20 Summit in India.
Sunak told Qiang that “actions which seem to undermine British democracy are completely unacceptable and will never be tolerated.”
The Prime Minister’s tough stand followed the arrest of a parliamentary researcher in Britain on accusations of spying for China.
Sunak said he told Qiang that “any interference in our parliamentary democracy” is “obviously unacceptable.”
The Chinese Embassy termed the allegation “anti-China political manipulation.”
But there were previous claims of China spying and meddling in the United States and also intimidating dissidents.
The US Justice Department had identified people who were allegedly threatened and bullied.
Those allegedly intimidated included a Chinese-born congressional candidate, employees of a human rights organisation, and an attorney and political activist.
In July, a retired police officer in Canada was charged with foreign interference after allegedly being caught spying for China.
The Canadian intelligence agency warned the country’s citizens that China was seeking to recruit people to conduct espionage activities.
The Canadian authorities said they tracked Chinese surveillance equipment in the Arctic Ocean.
Several people who fled China said they were being coerced into spying on high-profile dissidents.
One man said he was cautioned that his family members in China were dead or in hospital – a clear threat to his welfare.
CNN has reported that China has a history of spying in the United States.
In February, US fighter jets shot down a Chinese airship off its eastern seaboard.
The jet, which was said to be carrying out espionage activities, was called a Chinese spy balloon.
It was recently revealed that China is setting up a modern spy base in Cuba that has the capacity to monitor sensitive surveillance and military operations in North Carolina, USA.
International analysts said that China is now influencing global elections more than ever.
One commentator said that China is meddling in the elections in certain countries, seeking to undermine the sovereignty and integrity of the political systems of the targeted nations.
A professor of science and specialist in Chinese politics was quoted in the US media as stating: “We haven’t seen anything like this from any country for a very long time.”
The Chinese toolbox is said to include disinformation on social media platforms, influence in the media and universities, and seeking sway over selected politicians.
The Chinese authorities have great interest in Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean region for the strategic location close to the vast Latin American market.
In 2016, T&T became the first country to sign onto China’s Belt and Road Initiative and has received loans and technical support.
China is reportedly interested in its agency COSTCO leasing the ports of Port of Spain and Point Lisas and building the Toco deepwater facility.
China has constructed massive ports in Antigua and other countries with the capacity to also handle military operations.
T&T’s current debt to China is around US $7 billion.
