Canada’s Intel Agency Again Flags China as ‘Most Active’ Foreign Meddler

Canada’s spy agency says China is the “most active state” conducting foreign interference in Canada, and warns that Beijing is likely to continue targeting Canadian democratic institutions.

In its Sept. 3 report on foreign interference (FI), the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) said Chinese officials and proxies are responsible for planning, organizing, and carrying out interference activities in Canada.

“The People’s Republic of China (PRC) is the most active state conducting FI activities in Canada, in scale and scope of activity,” states the report, which also analyzed the threat posed to Canada by foreign interference activities from India, Russia, Pakistan, and Iran.

The agency said Chinese meddling targets government institutions, the Chinese diaspora community, academics, businesses, political staff, political leaders, and a host of other Canadian organizations.

The agency said Beijing is likely to attempt electoral interference over the next year, possibly in the next federal election, and will “almost certainly” continue acts of transnational repression against Chinese Canadian communities.

CSIS defines foreign interference as activities by foreign states or their proxies that are clandestine, deceptive, or threatening and are directed within or against Canada or Canadian interests. The agency says such activities can include attempts to cultivate individuals, influence politicians and decision-makers, spread disinformation, and intimidate or coerce members of diaspora communities.

The agency said PRC officials in Canada and China are primarily responsible for planning and organizing political foreign interference in Canada, while proxies—including individuals and groups associated with the Chinese Communist Party’s United Front system—are primarily involved in carrying it out.

CSIS has previously described the CCP’s United Front Work Department as the party’s “primary foreign interference administrative arm.”

When it comes to tactics used by Beijing, CSIS describes a “sophisticated system of incentives and disincentives” targeting individuals. Incentives include financial and status rewards, while disincentives can include visa controls, monitoring, harassment, intimidation, and punishment directed at friends and family members.

CSIS said China’s primary objectives include exerting control over Chinese Canadian communities, suppressing dissent, and pushing Canadian politicians and decision-makers toward positions and policies that are favourable to Beijing. The agency said China “almost certainly views PRC FI activities as low-risk, high-reward endeavours.”

In its last public report on foreign interference, released in June 2025, CSIS described China as posing “the greatest counter-intelligence threat to Canada” and said Chinese intelligence and United Front organizations targeted governments, citizens, diaspora communities, media, academia, and other organizations through foreign interference, espionage and other clandestine activities.

Canada-China Relations

The new CSIS report comes amid Prime Minister Mark Carney’s efforts to deepen Canada-China relations.

During a January 2026 visit to China, Carney said the two countries were entering a “strategic partnership,” expanding cooperation in areas including trade, energy, finance, law enforcement, and multilateralism. The visit also resulted in several memoranda of understanding.

The approach contrasts with comments Carney made during the April 2025 federal election campaign, when he described China as “the biggest security threat” to Canada.

The day after the new CSIS report was issued, military-to-military talks between Canada and China took place Sept. 4 in Canada.

China’s Defence Ministry described the meeting as a “candid and in-depth exchange” and said the two sides expressed a willingness to strengthen exchanges and cooperation between their militaries. Canada’s Defence Department subsequently confirmed that the meeting took place on Sept. 4, describing it as part of “ongoing military-to-military communications at the functional level.”

Conservative defence critic James Bezan and foreign affairs critic Eric Duncan spoke out against the military talks as well as government documents showing that CAF members helped train the Chinese military as part of a U.N. preparation training mission called Exercise Khaan Quest in 2023 in Mongolia.

“The communist regime in Beijing and their military cannot be trusted. They are not our allies; they are not our friends; they do not share our values,” Bezan posted Sept. 15 on X.

Bezan said the Tories will be putting forward a motion in committee when Parliament resumes to call for Canadian defence officials to testify on the military training and the restarting of military talks between Beijing and Ottawa.

Concerns have been previously raised about Beijing’s meddling in Canada, with a public inquiry into foreign interference headed by Justice Marie-Josée Hogue concluding in its final January 2025 report that China is the “most active perpetrator” of foreign interference activities in Canada.

The report also said that Ottawa has not been transparent enough with Canadians about the threat posed by Beijing.

“The government has proven to be a poor communicator and insufficiently transparent when it comes to foreign interference,” the report states.