Briefly: The day after B.C.’s election, the pro-Beijing Canadian Alliance of Chinese Associations chose new leadership in Richmond.
Bob Mackin
The day after British Columbia’s provincial election, a prominent ally of the People’s Republic of China consulate met in Richmond to choose its new leader.
Chu Yuanzheng became the executive chair of the Canadian Alliance of Chinese Associations (CACA) on Oct. 20 for a two-year term. Chu, who succeeds 2022-elected Richmond real estate agent Xue Xiaomei, had previously been the executive chair from 2014-2016.
CACA also chose Hong Qichan as vice chair, 12 board members and three supervisors.
Hong Qichan (left), Chu Yuanzheng and Xue Xiaomei (Lahoo.ca)
A November 2012 China News Network profile described Chu as “a Canadian overseas businessman and chairman of Hunan Yuanzheng Investment Group,” a transportation, real estate and tourism company he founded in 2008.
A May 2014 profile said that he resigned in 1996 from management of state-owned enterprises, bought four, air-conditioned sleeper buses that operated from Liling in Hunan to Shenzhen in Guangdong and “embarked on the road of business.”
In 2015, Chu represented CACA on then-BC Liberal premier Christy Clark’s tour to China.
Jiangxi-native Hong is the founding president of the North American Alumni Association of Peking University’s HSBC Business School.
Former honorary CACA chairs at the event in Stage One Academy included Hong Wei (Winnie) Liao, the supporter of Justin Trudeau and owner of Respon Wealth Management Corp. Liao is appealing the cancellation of her licence by the Insurance Council of B.C.
Also attending were Canada Shandong Business Association head Zheng Yan and former CACA secretary Shumei Lu, who both supported Conservative Michael Wu’s unsuccessful campaign in the Burnaby North riding.
CACA is a 2008-founded, Richmond-based umbrella for more than 100 business and cultural groups. It says it promotes Mainland Chinese political involvement in Canada and economic, scientific and cultural co-operation with China. CACA leaders are frequently seen with Chinese diplomats and Canadian federal, provincial and municipal politicians.
In 2018, Chen Yonglin, a former Chinese diplomat who defected in Australia, described CACA as a “controlling level” United Front group.
The United Front Work Department is “a key [Chinese Communist Party] entity engaged in foreign interference,” according to the first report of the Hogue Commission
“Internationally, the UFWD attempts to control and influence the Chinese diaspora, shape international opinions and influence politicians to support PRC policies,” said the public inquiry’s May report.
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