Скачать или смотреть Desitdown News(Canada warns of election threats from China, Russia, India and Pakistan)

Canada’s Intelligence Agency Warns of Foreign Election Interference from China, India, Russia, and Pakistan

*Ottawa, Canada* — Canada’s intelligence agency, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), has issued a warning that foreign actors, including China, India, Russia, and Pakistan, may attempt to interfere in the upcoming federal elections on April 28.

Vanessa Lloyd, the deputy director of operations at CSIS, cautioned on Tuesday that the agency is preparing for potential meddling during the election. Relations between Ottawa and Beijing, as well as between Canada and New Delhi, have been particularly strained in recent years.

Lloyd stated that countries such as China and India are increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled tools to influence democratic processes. She noted that China is “highly likely” to use AI tools to attempt interference in Canada’s election, while India also has the “intent and capability” to do the same. She further highlighted that Russia and Pakistan could pose similar threats.

While it is often challenging to establish a direct link between foreign interference activities and election outcomes, Lloyd warned that such actions could undermine public trust in the integrity of Canada’s democratic systems.

*Escalating Tensions with China and India*

The warning adds further tension to the already fraught diplomatic relations between Canada, China, and India. Ottawa recently condemned China's use of the death penalty after Beijing executed four Canadian citizens on drug smuggling charges. Last year, Canada expelled six Indian diplomats over allegations of their involvement in a plot against Sikh separatists in the country.

In response to the CSIS warning, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied any involvement in foreign interference, stating that Beijing has "never had any interest in interfering in Canada’s internal affairs." Both China and India have previously denied similar allegations, which has only exacerbated diplomatic tensions.

Earlier this year, Canada’s Foreign Interference Commission reported that both China and India had interfered in Canadian elections in 2019 and 2021. The commission noted that while foreign interference is not a new phenomenon, it is on the rise, and the methods being used are evolving.

*Prime Minister Calls Early Election Amid Rising Tensions*

Canadians will head to the polls next month after Prime Minister Mark Carney called a snap election this week. The Liberal Party, led by Carney, aims to capitalize on momentum gained since the beginning of the year.

Carney's push for an early election comes amid ongoing trade disputes, particularly with the United States and China. The U.S.-China trade war, driven by U.S. President Donald Trump, has had ripple effects on Canada, while tensions with Beijing escalated in March when China imposed tariffs on more than $2.6 billion worth of Canadian agricultural and food products. This was seen as retaliation for Canada's imposition of tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, steel, and aluminum.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) confirmed on Monday that Canada had filed a complaint against China over these trade actions. In response, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs defended Beijing’s countermeasures, calling them “completely reasonable and in accordance with the law,” urging Canada to “correct its wrong practices” and facilitate normal trade relations between the two nations.

#desitdown #news #Canada #warns #election #threats #from #China, #Russia, #India #Pakistan