Canada warns of election threats from China, Russia, India and Pakistan

According to Canada’s intelligence agency, China and India are likely to try to stifle upcoming elections, while Pakistan and Russia also pose a potential threat.

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), its deputy director of operations, stated on Tuesday that it is prepared to interfere with the vote scheduled for April 28. Relations between Ottawa and China, particularly, have been difficult.

According to Vanessa Lloyd, these nations are increasingly ingratiating artificial intelligence (AI) in international elections.

She said that China is “highly likely to attempt to interfere with Canada’s democratic process in this current election” using AI-enabled tools.

She continued, noting that India may have the “intent and capacity” to do the same. Russia and Pakistan may also have the potential to interfere.

The spy chief said it’s frequently difficult to establish a direct correlation between foreign interference activities and election results. However, threat-related behaviors can undermine the public’s confidence in Canadian democratic institutions and processes.

Nothing fresh

The accusations won’t help Canada’s or China’s tense relations with either country.

Beijing announced that four Canadian citizens had been executed on drug smuggling charges, prompting Ottawa to condemn China’s use of the death penalty.

Six Indian diplomats were fired from Canada last year after being accused of being part of a plot to depose Sikh separatists there.

Beijing has always resisted interfering with foreign countries’ internal affairs, according to a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and has never had any interest in interfering with Canada’s internal affairs.

Similar allegations from China and India have been refuted in the past, which has only aggravated strained relations.

In January, Ottawa revealed that the pair had influenced both 2019 and 2021 elections. Although interference was not a new phenomenon, it was growing, and the methods were evolving, according to the Foreign Interference Commission.

After Prime Minister Mark Carney’s announcement this week to support his Liberal Party’s growth since the start of the year, Canadians will turn out for the polls the following month.

Trade war

The trade war that US President Donald Trump slammed has fueled that momentum.

Canada and China are also at odds with one another over trade disputes.

In response to tariffs imposed last year on Chinese electric vehicles and steel and aluminum products, Beijing announced tariffs on more than $2.6 billion worth of Canadian agricultural and food products in early March.

On Monday, the World Trade Organization announced that China had lodged a complaint.

Beijing’s “countermeasures are completely reasonable and in accordance with the law,” according to a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Tuesday.