Despite admitting he had personal knowledge of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials interfering with Canadian voters, Liberal-appointed Sen. Yuen Pau Woo claims meddling is harmless. Woo claims Chinese interference in Canadian elections is “mostly aimed at improving bilateral relations,” according to Blacklock’s Reporter. In a sworn affidavit, Woo said he personally overheard Chinese diplomats advise a Canadian audience on how to vote, but considered it harmless..CCP says it interfered with 41 candidates in Canadian 2019 election — claims 20% success rate.“(Woo) warned we should not stigmatize people for listening to the Chinese position on an issue and making up their own minds,” said the September 30 affidavit filed with counsel at the Commission on Foreign Interference.“He noted for example he has been to functions in Canada where a Chinese diplomat would tell the audience that Canada-China relations are in a bad way and would encourage attendees to vote and advocate for better bilateral relations.”“While such actions may offend Canadian sensibilities because of antipathy towards China they do not amount to foreign interference, according to Sen. Woo.”He did not detail the incident. Woo in 2020 scheduled an appearance at a $10-per ticket meeting of the Canada-China Friendship Society, an Ottawa club endorsed by the Chinese Embassy..NOTHING TO SEE HERE: Trudeau testifies CSIS ‘Targetting Paper’ on CCP raised no concerns.“Sen. Woo’s view is the Chinese Communist Party is not interested in domestic Canadian legislation,” said the affidavit.“He does not get lobbied by China on gun legislation, for example, whereas he is frequently lobbied by American interests on that subject.”The CCP “continues to cultivate the favour of overseas Chinese communities,” Woo said in his affidavit.“He said this is not necessarily sinister, comparing it to other ethnic groups like the Irish diaspora or the Jewish community.”“Sen. Woo agreed the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has the ability to influence people in Canada who have family or business connections in China,” said the affidavit.“Sen. Woo’s view, however, was that while we should denounce such activities there is not much we can do about them.”.Foreign interference reports reveal CCP media’s influence in Canada.Woo said it was “likely accurate” that CCP views dominate Chinese language media in Canada but considered it unimportant.“Holding views that are sympathetic to some People’s Republic positions does not make those publications mouthpieces or proxies of the Chinese state,” he said, per the affidavit.“Sen. Woo states in the discourse about foreign interference, Canadians are ignoring the influence of the United States.”“He said he is constantly being lobbied by US-aligned interests on various domestic public policy issues including legislation that is before parliament. While this activity may not be state sponsored it has a much bigger impact on the lives of Canadians. He believes the influence of US state and non-state actors on Canadian politics and society is much more profound.”Woo is a native Singaporean who immigrated to Canada in 1988. He is former CEO of the taxpayer-funded Asia Pacific Foundation. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointed Woo to the Senate in 2016..Foreign interference inquiry hears CCP agents worked on 2021 elections polls.In 2023, Woo told reporters it was “deeply insulting” to ask if he had contacts with Beijing.“I don’t like getting these attacks,” said Woo at the time.“People are claiming that I am some kind of a foreign agent not because they have any evidence of arrangements between myself and a foreign state but because of my views.”“If someone like me can be labeled in such a way because of the views I express, imagine the thousands and thousands and thousands of other Canadians who could also be stigmatized.”“You have been dubbed as Beijing’s man in the senate, as China’s mouthpiece in the senate. Do you have any ties with the Chinese regime?” said a reporter. ““I am not sure I want to dignify that question,” replied Woo.“It is deeply insulting.”Woo in 2020 attended a meeting of the alumni association of the Fudan University of Economics, a Shanghai school that in 2019 rewrote its constitution to pledge loyalty to the “leadership of the Communist Party” and “guiding position of Marxism.”The senator in a 2015 commentary said China deserved “a bigger voice” in world affairs.“We want the Chinese government to succeed,” he wrote in a 2015 commentary in iPolitics.“We support China’s desire for a bigger voice in global and regional governance.”
