Domination of Chinese-Language Media in Canada Poses National Security Threats

Of note. When I analysed ethnic media coverage during the 2019 election (How does ethnic media campaign coverage differ?), this was not evident although I might have missed it:

….Among these declassified top-secret documents, one report on Chinese-language media is particularly striking.

This report, labeled “Top Secret” and authored by Canadian intelligence in July of last year, is titled: “CHINA: Domination of Chinese-Language Media in Canada Poses National Security Threats.”

For those familiar with Chinese-language media, is it an exaggeration to consider it a “national security threat?”

According to the intelligence agency, it’s not just a few but the majority of Chinese-language media in Canada that fall under the influence of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP or CPC, as cited in the CSIS document). The document presents six key judgments, though the fourth point is heavily redacted:

1. “Communist Party of China (CPC)-friendly narratives inundate Chinese-language media in Canada. Censorship (including self-censorship) is pervasive, and alternative voices are few or marginalized in mainstream Chinese-language media. This includes both traditional media, such as newspapers, and digital platforms like WeChat.”
2. “The CPC’s strategy to control media operates on two fronts: narrative control and platform control. [redacted] overt and clandestine.”
3. “The CPC limits opportunities for dissenting voices [redacted], provides economic incentives [redacted], and fosters self-censorship [redacted].”
4. “The extensive use of WeChat in Canada poses ongoing challenges. [redacted] Its platform design can amplify misinformation and disinformation that aligns with CPC interests.”
5. “The CPC’s influence on Chinese-language media, shaping public opinion overseas, also supports other activities, including transnational repression and influencing electoral outcomes.”

I believe the Canadian intelligence agency’s assessment is accurate. From my own experience as a commentator since the 1990s, I have observed these shifts….

Source: Domination of Chinese-Language Media in Canada Poses National Security Threats