China's 'systemic' G7 interference strategy revealed in Canadian study

China is employing a "systemic and adaptive" long-term interference strategy within G7 nations, according to a report by the Montreal-based research center MIGS. The United Front Work Department (UFWD) of China's Communist Party orchestrates this influence campaign through a vast network of over 2,000 organizations, more than 900 of which are in the United States.

The report, titled "Protecting the G7, Countering Beijing's Interference," details how China leverages political, economic, academic, and societal channels. This strategy exploits the openness of democratic societies to conduct operations aimed at influencing elections, manipulating public opinion, persecuting exiled dissidents, and extracting industrial secrets. The UFWD's network includes professional associations, student groups, cultural organizations, and media platforms.

While many of these entities are not inherently illegal, their cumulative effect is to shape political debates, influence public discourse, and potentially grant strategic advantages. The MIGS report highlights this as a "collective challenge to democratic governance, sovereignty, and the integrity of public debate" within the G7.

As G7 leaders prepare for a summit in mid-June, the report urges coordinated action. Proposed measures include establishing a joint coordination mechanism for interference, creating a shared registry of organizations and individuals linked to Chinese influence networks, and harmonizing legislation across member states. The report notes that in France, for example, the Chinese strategy specifically targets political figures.