"Chinese Communist Party Controls AIIB"... Canada Moves Toward Withdrawal

Secret Police and Election Interference Allegations Fuel Daily Conflicts
US-China Tensions Expand Frontlines to Allies
Domestic Controversy Over 'Betting' Remarks as Interference in Internal Affairs

The Canadian government has begun the process of withdrawing from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). This move follows the sudden resignation of a Canadian executive at the AIIB who claimed that the Chinese Communist Party controls the bank's management. Following allegations of Chinese interference in Canadian elections and the controversy over AIIB control, diplomatic tensions between the two countries are escalating.

On the 14th (local time), Chrystia Freeland, Canada's Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister, announced the launch of an investigation into the Chinese Communist Party's alleged control over the AIIB, stating, "The Canadian government will immediately and fully suspend government-led activities at the AIIB due to serious concerns." This action follows the recent resignation of Bob Pickard, a Canadian and the AIIB Communications Director.

In a tweet, Director Pickard criticized, "The AIIB is dominated by Communist Party members and has the most powerful 'toxic culture' imaginable." After posting the tweet, fearing detention in China, he hurriedly left for Tokyo, Japan, the previous morning. He continued to criticize, saying, "Communist Party members have infiltrated every department from the bank president's office, acting as an invisible government within the bank."

The Canadian government has called for an AIIB-level investigation into Pickard's claims and demanded Canadian participation. Minister Freeland said, "No outcome will be ruled out once the investigation is complete."

The AIIB is a multilateral development bank with 106 member countries, established for large-scale infrastructure investment in the Asia-Pacific region. It was launched in 2015 under China's leadership to counter the Western-led International Monetary Fund (IMF). China, holding 26.6% of the voting rights as the largest shareholder, can exercise veto power, leading many market participants to view the AIIB not as a multilateral bank but as a Chinese bank.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

This incident is expected to further deteriorate the already strained relationship between Canada and China. Relations between the two countries have reached a low point amid allegations that China operates a secret police station in Canada and interfered in elections twice in 2019 and 2021, raising accusations of 'internal interference.' One foreign media outlet predicted, "The frozen relationship between Canada and China over the past five years may enter a new period of decline."

This incident can be seen as an extension of the ongoing US-China conflict over global hegemony. As the US builds an anti-China containment network with its allies, the rift between US allies trying to keep pace and China is widening. Cornered, China is also pressuring US allies daily, causing further conflicts.

Domestically, recent remarks by Xing Haiming, the Chinese Ambassador to South Korea, sparked controversy over internal interference. On the 8th, Ambassador Xing met with Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and said, "(South Korea) is betting that the US will win and China will lose," adding, "Those who bet on China's defeat will surely regret it later." In response, the government summoned Ambassador Xing and strongly protested, further straining South Korea-China relations.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.