Toronto man allegedly involved in China's election meddling said he ceased to meet Chinese Consulate since late 2018. But the internet shows the opposite.
Wei Chengyi (魏成义), the Toronto businessman who was allegedly involved in China’s election interference in Canada as a proxy to funnel funds from the Chinese Consulate in Toronto to a network of Canadian politicians and candidates and political staffers, published a statement early this week (March 12, 2023).
(Click here to Read the English version of the statement: translated by Global News, or read it at the end of this post.)
There are a number of disinformation and false claims, among which is Wei’s that he basically had no contact with the Chinese Consulate in Toronto after the second half of 2018. But a simple search on the Chinese internet can easily prove this is a lie.
Here is an exhaustive list of events where Wei met with Chinese consulate officials in Toronto in 2019.
On Feb. 9, 2019, Han Tao (韩涛, 7th from right in the front row), Chinese Consul-General in Toronto, attended the inauguration ceremony of the 16th Council of the Confederation of Toronto Chinese Canadian Organizations (CTCCO, 多伦多华人团体联合总会). Wei Chengyi (3rd from right in the front row)
On Feb.16, 2019, Han Tao (5th from right in the front row), Chinese Consul-General in Toronto, attended the Chinese Lunar Year Gathering at the CTCCO. Wei (3rd from right in the front row) and Wen Guoning (翁国宁), president of CTCCO sat beside Consul-General Han.
Another photo at the On Feb.16, 2019 event. Han stood right beside Wei.
On Apri.12, 2019, Consul-General Han attended the inauguration ceremony of the 10th Council of the Chinese Canadians for China’s Reunification (GTA) 全加华人促进中国统一委员会(大多伦多区). Wei stood in the back row, right on top of Ping T. Tan (陈丙丁)。
On Dec. 20, 2019, the Chinese Consulate General in Toronto held a grand reception to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Macau's return to China. Wei (left) shook hands with Consul-General Han (right) before the dinner party.
On Jan.18, 2020, the Chinese Consulate General in Toronto hosted a Chinese new year reception. Consul-General Han (middle) posed for photo with Wei (right) and Wei’s wife (left).
On. Jan. 25, 2020, Consul-General Han (3rd from left) visited the office of CTCCO to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Wei (2nd from right) greeted Han back.
On Jan. 25, 2020, Consul-General Han (6th from left in the front row) and the management at CTCCO took a group photo to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Wei (5th from left in the front row) said right beside Han.
On Feb. 8, 2020, Consul-General Han attended the Spring Festival Gathering of the CTCCO.
At the dinner party celebrating the 2020 Chinese new year, Wei (1st from left) and Vincent Ke (柯文斌, 2nd from left), another politician allegedly involved in China’s 2019 election interference in Canada, sat at the same table with Han Tao (2nd from right), Chinese Consul-General in Toronto.
During the 2023 Chinese new year season, when Wei Chengyi and his Canada Toronto Fuqing Business Association (CTFQBA, 加拿大多伦多福清商会) had become the subject of an RCMP investigation for alleged China’s overseas “police station”, the Chinese Consulate General still sent two officials to attend the CTFQBA’s new year gala.
Wei (right) and Yu Lin (left), an executive at CTFQBA who met Chinese local police to discuss China’s overseas police stations, both attended the event featuring Chinese Consulate officials.
Wei hinted the reason for his distancing from the Toronto Consulate was connected to the arrival of the New General Consul Han Tao in August 2018. But the internet suggests Wei had met with Han Tao numerous times after August 2018.
On the evening of Aug. 31, 2018, the Chinese Consulate General in Toronto hosted a reception for the arrival of Consul General Han Tao. Wei (left) and his wife (right) were both there.
On the evening of September 28, Wei and Canadian Senator Victor Oh attended the "5 Years of One Belt, One Road photo exhibition at the Chinese Consulate General.
Consul-General Han (5th from right) also entertained Liberal MP Mary Ng (4th from right) and Ontario MPP Vincent Ke (3rd from right).
On Sept. 30, 2018, CTCCO hosts a dinner party to celebrate the 69th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and welcome Consul General Han (on the stage). Wei (2nd from right) attended the party.
On Oct. 1, 2018, Consul General Han (middle) and Wei (1st from left) both attended the Chinese flag-raising ceremony before the Ontario Legislative Building.
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On Dec. 9, 2018, the first overseas memorial to the victims of the Nanjing Massacre was inaugurated in Toronto. Consul General Han (front) and Wei (above the wreath) went to the event.
Related link: Wei Chengyi responds to allegations on role in 2019 election-interference network
https://globalnews.ca/news/9550059/wei-chengyi-responds-to-allegations-on-role-in-2019-election-interference-network/