Politics

A Dubious Demonstration Spurs Debate Over Canada’s China Policy

Prime Minister Trudeau faces calls to take a harder line amid growing signs of Beijing’s long reach into the nation’s affairs.

Demonstrators outside a Vancouver courtroom on Jan. 20. — Demonstrators outside a Vancouver courtroom on Jan. 20.
Photographer: Alia Dharssi/AFP/Getty Images

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By Natalie Obiko Pearson

February 13, 2020 at 11:00 AM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

This article is part of the February 17, 2020 issue of businessweek.

Something didn’t add up about the oddball group of youngsters gathered at a Vancouver courthouse calling for the release of Meng Wanzhou, Huawei Technologies Co.’s chief financial officer, at her hearings to fight extradition to the U.S. They refused to identify themselves. Their placards were identical, down to the handwriting and grammatical errors.

It turns out they weren’t sure what they were doing there, either. Some had been told they were taking part in a music video, others that they would be extras in a movie—all lured with offers of as much as C$150 ($113) for 15 minutes’ work. It’s unclear who was behind the payments. Huawei said it had no involvement. The Chinese Embassy in Ottawa didn’t respond to a request seeking comment.