She denies being a Chinese agent: a pro-Beijing activist wants to be an MP in Montreal

– Journal de Montréal, September 10, 2024, with the
collaboration of Yves Levesque –

At a time when Chinese interference in Canadian democracy is more of a concern than ever, a pro-China activist accused of "peddling" Beijing's propaganda is part of the long list of candidates in the by-election in less than a week in Montreal.

Tina Jiuru Zhu is a candidate in the September 16 election in LaSalle–Émard–Verdun. The woman who promises, among other things, to strengthen ties between Canada and China in her election platform has been causing a stir in recent years because of her pro-Beijing stance.

In 2022, Senator Leo Housakos even mentioned her during a plea for the creation of a Canadian registry of foreign agents to combat interference.

"Ms. Zhu said she was a representative of the Canada-China Friendship Promotion Association, an organization whose exact workings no one knows. Ms. Zhu says she does not work for the Chinese government and that it is a coincidence that she defends Chinese agents in Canada and peddles the same messages as Beijing," said Senator Housakos.

In recent years, Ms. Zhu has often defended Beijing's interests.

The real estate agent notably campaigned for the release of Meng Wanzhou, the CFO of Chinese giant Huawei, released in 2021, and also went to the courthouse to support Yuesheng Wang, a former Hydro-Québec researcher currently accused of economic espionage for China.

Ms. Zhu has also organized activities in support of the two alleged Chinese "police stations" in Montreal and Brossard, which are currently under investigation by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. She has also received support for her election campaign from the director of the two centres, Xixi Li.

Tina Zhu has also campaigned extensively for a petition calling on the government to reconsider its plan to create a foreign agents registry, a measure to combat foreign interference that is supported by all parties in the House of Commons.

She denies it

Ms. Zhu did not want to grant us an interview, saying she was too busy with her election campaign in LaSalle–Émard–Verdun.

It is therefore impossible to learn more about the organization she chairs, the Canada-China Friendship Promotion Association, whose website advocates for the forced reunification of Taiwan, desired by the Chinese government and decried on the international scene.

Nor on the presence on its board of directors of Shao Liping, who has previously described himself as an overseas advisor to the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, an official agency linked to the United Front of the Chinese Communist Party.

In a letter sent in July to the Commission on Foreign Interference, which has been sitting in Ottawa for the past few months, Tina Jiuru Zhu defended herself from being an agent in the service of Beijing and rejected Senator Housakos' accusations against her.

"When I sought the truth in the name of Canada-China friendship, I was unfairly labeled a Chinese agent. When I defended the rights of Chinese Canadians against discrimination, I was accused of having ties to the Chinese consulate," she denounced.

The chances that Tina Jiuru Zhu will win the seat in this Liberal stronghold, among more than 90 other candidates, are slim. A poll conducted by the firm Mainstreet Research in mid-July suggested a three-way race between the Liberal Party of Canada, the New Democratic Party and the Bloc Québécois.

She needs to explain herself

Tina Jiuru Zhu needs to explain some of her positions if she wants to perform public service, believes former Canadian ambassador to China Guy Saint-Jacques. "She takes positions that are difficult to support [...] We need to ask her questions [about her ties to China]," he says.

"Denying that the Chinese government can interfere or seek to influence shows naivety or complicity. We wonder where she gets her information," adds Mr. Saint-Jacques.

"It's important to have a foreign agent registry in Canada as soon as possible. If someone is working for a foreign government, it will be known. They will have to register. And if they're not registered and there's strong evidence of their collaboration, they will be arrested. This is something we're starting to see more and more in the United States [where such a registry exists]," said Margaret McCuaig-Johnston of the China Strategic Risks Institute.

China engaged in foreign interference in the last two federal elections, according to Canadian intelligence, a conclusion also reached by the Commission on Foreign Interference in a report released last May.

Beijing notably supported "financially candidates" who were "favourable to it." China, Commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue also wrote in her report, is "the most active and sophisticated threat of foreign interference to Canada" today and the resources it devotes to these activities "exceed those of other countries."

Who is Tina Jiuru Zhu?

Born in China

Immigrated to Canada in 1988

Holds a master's degree in applied computer science

Real estate agent and owner of a home decor store

Website:  www.cpcml.ca   Email:  editor@cpcml.ca