Who is/was Spying on Canadian MP Michael David Chong?
New information regarding the Chinese espionage operation that has been targeting Canadian lawmakers since 2021
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Michael David Chong, born in November 1971, began his notable political career in 2004 when he was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) to represent the Ontario riding (electoral district) of Wellington—Halton Hills in Canada’s House of Commons. His entry into the political arena marked the beginning of a career defined by a principled stance on issues and a steadfast dedication to Canadian values.
Chong’s family history is one of resilience and ambition. His father, Paul Chong, was a Chinese immigrant who arrived in Canada in 1952 almost penniless and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science from the University of Manitoba and a medical degree from the University of Ottawa. Michael’s mother, Adriana, was a Dutch immigrant and a nurse. Tragically, she passed away in a car accident when Michael was just six years old. His father later remarried but died in a similar accident at the same location in 1999, a twist of fate that deeply affected Chong and his family.
Michael Chong pursued a degree in philosophy from Trinity College at the University of Toronto. He co-founded the Dominion Institute, now known as Historica Canada, which focuses on promoting Canadian history and civics. Before entering politics, Chong worked as the Chief Information Officer for the National Hockey League Players’ Association and as a senior technology consultant for the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, contributing to the redevelopment of Toronto Pearson International Airport.
Chong quickly gained a reputation for his principled stances. In 2006, he was appointed to Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s cabinet as the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister for Sport. However, Chong resigned from the cabinet later that year in opposition to a motion recognizing the Québécois as a nation within Canada, a move he felt was divisive. This resignation underscored his commitment to a unified Canadian identity.
Throughout his career, Chong has been a vocal advocate for human rights and democracy. He has taken a strong stand against China’s human rights abuses, particularly those against the Uyghur minority and issues surrounding the telecom giant Huawei. His dedication to these causes has made him a significant figure in Canadian politics, known for his integrity and unwavering principles.
Michael Chong’s contributions to Canadian politics extend beyond his legislative work. His efforts with the Reform Act, which aimed to decentralize power in political parties and empower individual MPs, reflect his ongoing commitment to democratic reform. The legislation was assented to on June 23, 2015, reinforcing Chong’s influence in shaping a more accountable and representative political system in Canada.
Contents
Michael David Chong, PC MP
“A Systemic Failure”
New Developments
“A Systemic Failure”
Michael Chong initially learned that he and some other Canadian lawmakers were being targeted by a Chinese espionage campaign through media reports and then from subsequent briefings by officers of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS). The Parliamentarians being targeted were members of Canada’s Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, which focuses on how democracies all over the world should approach issues related to the People’s Republic of China.
The espionage activities were multi-faceted and insidious. They included attempts to gather detailed information on Chong and his family, a move believed to be partly in retaliation for Chong’s vocal criticism of China. Chong had been an outspoken critic of Beijing’s human rights abuses, particularly in Xinjiang, where he condemned the treatment of Uyghurs as genocide. His stance had clearly not gone unnoticed by Chinese authorities.
In a chilling twist, CSIS discovered that Zhao Wei, a Chinese diplomat based in Toronto, was directly involved in these espionage efforts. Zhao had been collecting information about Chong’s family members in Hong Kong with the intent to sanction them, aiming to exert pressure on Chong through threats to his loved ones. This revelation led to a significant diplomatic fallout, with Zhao Wei being declared persona non grata and expelled from Canada in 2023. The Chinese government reciprocated with a tit-for-tat expulsion of a Canadian diplomat—Jennifer Lynn Lalonde—from Shanghai.
The involvement of a Chinese diplomat in espionage activities against a sitting MP escalated diplomatic tensions between Canada and China. The situation was exacerbated by what Chong described as “a systemic failure” within the Canadian government to notify him of the threats. He learned about the espionage through media reports nearly two years after CSIS had initially tracked the activities. This delay sparked outrage and called into question the protocols for handling such sensitive information.
Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino later issued a directive to CSIS to ensure that parliamentarians are promptly informed of any foreign threats against them. However, Chong argued that these measures were too little, too late, highlighting a broader issue of how foreign interference was being managed at the highest levels of government.
The espionage against Chong was part of a larger pattern of interference by China in Canadian affairs, which included efforts to influence federal elections and intimidate other MPs critical of Beijing. The Canadian government, under pressure to act, established the Security and Intelligence Threats Task Force to monitor and address such threats. Despite these measures, the incidents involving Chong underscored the ongoing challenges Canada faces in protecting its democratic institutions from foreign interference.
Michael Chong’s case is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of Chinese espionage activities observed across multiple continents since 2020. In Europe alone, at least 19 countries have reported similar attacks aimed at gathering sensitive information and manipulating democratic processes. These activities are meticulously coordinated, leveraging technological sophistication and extensive human networks to exert influence and gather intelligence globally.
In Canada, the impact of the espionage revelations has been profound, sparking heated debates in Parliament and among the public. Calls for a thorough overhaul of national security measures have gained momentum, with many advocating for increased transparency and stricter controls to protect Canadian sovereignty. The scandal has also strained Canada’s relationship with its Five Eyes intelligence-sharing allies, as confidence in the nation’s ability to manage and share critical intelligence information has been shaken.
New Developments
A recent report by Canada’s Communications Security Establishment (CSE) unveiled the covert operation by Chinese spies targeting eight members of Parliament and one senator since 2021. According to the report, the spies attempted to infiltrate the lawmakers’ personal and work devices but ultimately failed to extract any sensitive information.
Michael Chong continues to work closely with international allies to counteract Chinese espionage. He has been a vocal advocate for the establishment of a foreign agent registry in Canada, a measure he believes is crucial for enhancing transparency and security. This registry would require individuals acting on behalf of foreign governments to declare their affiliations, therefore preventing covert influence on Canadian soil. His efforts align with broader global trends where democracies are bolstering their defenses against the sophisticated tactics of state-sponsored cyber actors.
The CSE’s report also highlighted the growing use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) by foreign adversaries to manipulate electoral processes. As elections worldwide become increasingly susceptible to cyber threats, the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security has intensified its collaboration with Elections Canada and political parties to safeguard the nation’s democratic infrastructure. This includes providing continuous monitoring, security briefings, and a 24/7 hotline during election periods to report cyber incidents.
Canada’s response to these espionage activities is multi-faceted. The Security and Intelligence Threats to Elections (SITE) Task Force, which includes the CSE, CSIS, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), and Global Affairs Canada, plays a pivotal role in monitoring and addressing these threats. Their efforts were particularly evident during recent federal by-elections, where no significant foreign interference was detected, thanks to robust monitoring and security measures.
Chong’s advocacy for a foreign agent registry and his collaboration with international allies underscore the global nature of this struggle. Countries like the United States and the United Kingdom have also been targets of similar espionage activities, further highlighting the need for a united front against these threats.
