CANADA Ottawa accuses the Development Bank created by Beijing of ‘communist domination’ and freezes relations

The former director of communications for the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Bob Pickard, a Canadian citizen, resigned from his position and flew to Tokyo for fear of reprisals. On Twitter he harshly criticized the financial institution. Canada has suspended all government activities at the bank and called for an investigation, a new setback for bilateral relations.

Beijing () – While the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, is heading to Beijing with the aim of improving relations with China, Ottawa is continuing its confrontation with that country. Canada has frozen relations with the Beijing-based Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) after the bank’s director of general communications, a Canadian citizen, announced his resignation earlier this week, saying the institution “is dominated by the Communist Party” of China. The Canadian government is investigating the allegations and has hinted that Ottawa might withdraw its membership.

At the time of announcing his resignation, former communications director Bob Pickard harshly criticized the financial institution: “The Bank is controlled by members of the Communist Party and has one of the most toxic cultures imaginable. I do not believe my country’s interests will be served by joining the AIIB,” he wrote on Twitter. After the announcement, Pickard hurriedly boarded a flight to Tokyo for security reasons.

In an interview with Reuters, he said he had been advised not to set foot in China anytime soon, mentioning the “two Michaels”, referring to Canadian citizens Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, who were kidnapped and imprisoned in China during nearly three years in retaliation for the arrest of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou in Canada at the request of the United States.

According to Pickard’s LinkedIn profile, the Canadian joined the AIIB in March 2022. He described the bank as a tool Beijing uses to achieve its geopolitical goals by financing the Belt and Road Initiative, the mega-infrastructure project launched by Beijing. in 2013. Pickard also claimed that the Communist Party interfered in his work and has strong influence in the bank’s decision-making body. However, he refused to give examples due to the confidentiality agreement with the institution.

The AIIB issued a statement saying that Pickard’s allegations are “unfounded and disappointing”. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin responded to Pickard’s comments by saying that “the AIIB adheres to the principles of openness, meritocracy and transparency in hiring and managing employees.” Wang said the bank also has employees from 65 countries and its achievements have been “widely recognized by the international community.” The Chinese embassy in Canada has also stated that Pickard’s claims are false.

After the incident, Canadian Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland made it known that Canada had suspended “all government activities at the bank.” The Canadian government is reviewing the allegations and its own involvement in the organization. Freeland stated that she was not excluding any results from the investigation, suggesting that Ottawa might leave the international organization created by Beijing.

Chinese President Xi Jinping announced the creation of the AIIB in 2016. The AIIB is currently headed by Jin Liqun, a former Chinese vice finance minister. The institution sees itself as an alternative to other Western-led organizations such as the World Bank. The AIIB claims to be an “apolitical” funder and currently has 106 members. The United States had urged member countries to rethink their participation. Canada joined the bank in 2018, but the Conservative Party has repeatedly called on the government to withdraw, claiming the bank is a tool for China to exert its influence.

Bilateral relations between China and Canada have been progressively deteriorating in recent years. Ottawa recently accused Beijing of interfering in elections and creating secret police stations. Canada expelled a Chinese diplomat citing foreign interference, and China responded by expelling a Canadian diplomat.