In Canadas Election, Mark Carneys China Experience Becomes a Liability

Asked to name the biggest threat to Canada’s security during an election debate, Mark Carney, the country’s prime minister and Liberal Party leader running to win a full term, gave a surprising answer: “China.”Analysts saw it as an attempt to distance himself from the country amid heightened scrutiny on his own past work there.Mr.Carney, a former central banker and business executive, dealt with the Chinese establishment in his recent private-sector roles for companies with investments in China.But what was once an asset — experience working with a rising global power — has become a political liability in Monday’s national elections.Mr.

Carney and the Liberals have come under criticism for supporting a parliamentary candidate with connections to groups representing China’s Communist Party in Canada.Foreign interference in diaspora communities in Canada by China, India and other nations has been a concern for both parties, and the subject of inquiries.

The relationship between Canada and China sharply deteriorated following a diplomatic crisis that began when Canada detained a Chinese executive in 2018 on behalf of the United States.We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe....