Chinese Canadians walk tightrope in political arena amid foreign interference debate
Mark Lee, a professional translator and former council candidate in Richmond, B.C., says he knows what it’s like to walk the fine line faced by fellow Chinese Canadians entering the political arena amid scrutiny of alleged foreign interference.
He says he’s not ignorant of the risks and considers potential political interference a serious issue that needs to be addressed.
“I’ve seen things that I think are maybe suspicious, or I feel like I don’t agree with coming out of, for example, the (Chinese) consulate,” said Lee, who ran unsuccessfully last year as part of the slate for the Richmond Citizens Association.
But he also worries about Chinese Canadians being tarred by association, and the potential for misunderstanding of “cultural dynamics” during a debate about political interference that has been going on for years within Chinese communities but has recently triggered broader scrutiny and calls for a public investigation.