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By Brett Byers and Brandon Purcell



Canadians have heard the warnings about foreign interference, particularly when it comes to elections. From Russian activity in the 2016 US election, to China’s United Front work, to disinformation spreading like wildfire over social media, the risks are becoming better understood.

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However, apart from needed but inadequate work by Parliament, little has been done to inoculate our democracy against the kinds of risks that have plagued like-minded countries. Simply put, our decision-makers have lacked the will to combat seriously this simmering threat.

So where then can Canada look for inspiration? A leading country on this issue is a place Canada has more in common with than you may realize: Taiwan.

This tiny island nation faces constant threats from the People’s Republic of China. Since the initial election of Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-Wen, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has beefed up attempts to undermine Taiwan’s democracy and erode its self-governance through a variety of efforts.