This piece first appeared in The Epoch Times Canada on June 20, 2024.
What do France, Azerbaijan, and New Caledonia have in common? Looking at a map you would think, not much. France is in Europe, Azerbaijan in Asia and New Caledonia is way out in the Pacific Ocean. The three nations have no obvious links, except for the fact that New Caledonia was “colonised” by the French back in the mid-19th century and is now part of that country’s overseas territories.
Here is the link: France has accused Azerbaijan of interfering in internal politics in New Caledonia by supporting Kanak independence movements and spreading disinformation (of note is that New Caledonia has held three referendums, all failed, on the question of separating from France).
Now why in heaven’s name would Azerbaijan do this? Simple. After a 2023 offensive by Azerbaijan to reclaim control of the territory known as Nagorno-Karabakh, long disputed between Azerbaijan and Armenia, France openly supported Armenia. Hence, this is Azerbaijan’s way of sticking it to France. Hard to believe.
This all underlines that the issue of foreign interference—and its close cousin transnational repression, which involves threats to and even killing of individuals in diasporas around the world—is a growing problem in many countries and is posing new challenges to law enforcement and security services. That states are behind most of these actions, rather than individuals or groups, makes it even more complicated.
Meanwhile, back in Canada…
The ongoing sad saga of foreign interference by the People’s Republic of China in this country goes from bad to worse with each passing day. After intelligence leaks demonstrated to Canadians that the PRC had interfered in at least two federal elections, an initial report by former Governor General David Johnston, a commission by Madame Justice Hogue, we now have a bombshell report by the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliametarians (NSICOP) that an untold number of parliamentarians wittingly cooperated with known foreign intelligence agents to Canada’s detriment.
One would think this allegation would merit an immediate reply and a promise to put an end to this action.
It is getting increasingly difficult to guess what it will take for this issue to receive the urgency it deserves. We are being penetrated, up to the buying off of unnamed elected officials, by foreign powers which do not have Canada’s best interests at heart. Any government should want to get to the bottom of this ASAP, identify those responsible, and lay charges (perhaps even treason charges) against those involved (or at the very least punt the “diplomats”—i.e., spies—behind the interference).
Alas, we are not getting the required response. It is more of the same: CSIS does not understand “politics,” the intelligence is not trustworthy, we cannot afford to upset our major economic and trade partners like China. As a consequence, the PRC and others take away the lesson that we are not serious about national security and foreign interference and they will keep doing what they have been.
I am fairly certain France will not respond to Azerbaijani interference in New Caledonia in such a weak-kneed fashion.
It really is time for the federal government to stand up for all of us and our collective security.
