China’s Toronto mayoral candidate said he was running to “tell the story of China well”. It’s a term introduced by Chinese President Xi Jinping when directing the work of state media to spread the message of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) around the world.
May 3rd Press conferenceTony Luck announced he would be wearing a hat in the ring for the Toronto mayoral election scheduled for Oct. 24. He also revealed his motivation for participating in the race.
“Time flies. ran for city council. That was less than a year ago. I’m running again this year, but I’m aiming for an even higher position: mayor of Toronto,” Luke said in Mandarin. “Some people ask me out of curiosity, ‘Why are you running for mayor?’ My answer is to tell the Chinese story well, to exercise Chinese influence.”
The phrase “telling the story of China well” is one of the core concepts of the Chinese Communist Party’s “foreign propaganda work” and was put forward by President Xi Jinping in a speech in August 2013. National Propaganda and Ideology Working ConferenceIn , Xi outlined his approach to the international message.
“[We] Conduct foreign propaganda meticulously and appropriately, innovate foreign propaganda methods, work hard to create new concepts, new categories and new expressions that integrate China and foreign countries, successfully tell China’s story, and improve China’s You have to get your voice across,” he said. at the time.
President Xi Jinping, who has just secured an unprecedented third term as China’s leader, is a concentration of power not seen since the days of the early leaders of the Chinese Communist Party, Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. remains in power. At his week-long 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, which ended Oct. 22, repeated the word It aims to “tell the Chinese story well and convey the Chinese voice well” and “show an image of China that is trustworthy, lovable and respectable”.
The Epoch Times reached out to Luk for comment but did not hear back.
Supporting the National Security Law
Luke was born in Hong Kong and came to Toronto in 1974 at the age of 16. He was the founder and president of the CanHome Group, an immigration consultancy, according to his campaign website.
2021, Luk came in 5th place 22 in Scarborough-Azincourt’s Toronto City Council by-election. On his by-election website, tonyuk.ca, a Chinese account of Luke’s career states that he holds “significant positions” in more than 50 associations across China. He was also a foreign representative at the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).
of CPPCC According to a 2018 staff survey, members of China’s highest-level decision-making body, the Politburo Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China, have led the way in formulating China’s broader united front strategy, and the party’s United Front Work Department ( provide direction to UFWD) report According to the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. According to the report, the UFWD is tasked with coordinating influential activities to crush potential dissent in China and abroad.
Luke has been “honored” to have served five times as the CPPCC’s overseas representative for various levels of China’s government since 2013, according to a 2019 article on the website. legend mediaa Chinese media outlet in Canada.
Several Chinese-language media outlets, including China’s state-run media, have protested the Chinese Communist Party’s crackdown on Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement, the conflict between Canada and China over the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou, and the regime’s human rights abuses. , an international diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
a May 2020 Report Luk, along with three other Chinese community leaders, expressed strong support for enforcing Beijing’s national security law in Hong Kong, according to Canadian Chinese-language news outlet TCN News. The law is widely seen as a violation of international agreements that gave the former British colonies relative autonomy after their return to Chinese rule in 1997.
Three other Chinese community leaders Toronto Chinese Canadian Association; Zhu Jiang, Chairman of the Executive Committee Rookie Organization CouncilChairman Chen Bingding Chinese Canadians to Reunify China (GTA)—Toronto Branch of the Chinese Communist Party China Peaceful Unification Promotion Committee.
Luk, July 3, 2020 posted an ad It was posted on the chinanews.org website under the headline: “We warmly celebrate the 23rd anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland and firmly support the enactment of the Hong Kong National Security Law.”
cheer up
On December 8, 2021, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Canada will join a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics over China’s human rights abuses and will not send diplomatic representatives to international sporting events.
A few weeks later, in January 2022, Luk hosted an event celebrating the 20-day countdown to the Beijing Winter Olympics. Reported by Takungpao.com,website headquarters in Hong Kong and Beijing. He said at the time that he would actively promote the Beijing Winter Olympics through Canadian media in China, he reported Takungpao.
Luk also chaired the committee that organized an online celebration to celebrate the successful conclusion of the sporting event on February 20, 2022. Over 130 community representatives, Canadian politicians, athletes, coaches, sports professionals and business representatives attended the celebration. Reported by Legend Media.
‘Happy’ for Meng’s release
Relations between Canada and China soured in December 2018 after Ottawa arrested Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou on fraud charges following a US extradition request. Shortly thereafter, Beijing detained two Canadians widely viewed as “hostage diplomacy” against Canada, Michael Kovrig and Michael Speiber.
On September 25, 2021, the two men, who became known as “The Two Michaels,” were released and returned to Canada after spending more than 1,000 days in Chinese prisons. Meng was released a day before him, admitted his role in the financial fraud, and was allowed to return to China. deferred prosecution agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice.
Luke I told Takumpao On September 26, 2021, he said he was “very happy” to hear of Meng’s release, and overseas Chinese in Canada also said they were “very excited” about Meng’s release and “felt strong support from their homeland.” there is,” he said.
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Andrew Chen is a reporter for the Epoch Times based in Toronto.