"I was pretty dismayed at the extent of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) influence in the federal Parliament. I should probably not say any more to stay on the right side of the libel laws... [W]hat are the authorities doing about this? I think that's the real measure of China's influence." — Australian professor Clive Hamilton, National Post, April 15, 2019.

Despite leaked intelligence reports about Chinese interference in Canada's last two federal elections in 2019 and 2021, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has refused to hold a public probe into the matter.

[T]he passivity of Trudeau's Liberal Party is "permitting China to colonize Canada." — Tasha Kheiriddin, Canadian political columnist, National Post, August 22, 2023.

"On housing: Chinese money laundering inflated Canadian property values for decades and helped push home ownership out of reach for today's buyers. On drug addiction: China is the main source country of fentanyl found in Canada, paving the way for thousands of overdose deaths. On the economy: China has targeted a host of Canadian industries for control, from lobsters to lithium." — Tasha Kheiriddin, National Post, August 22, 2023.

"The CCP's basic strategy of overseas influence and interference is to capture elites in politics, business, media, think tanks, universities, and cultural institutions...It deploys a range of techniques including flattery, financial inducement, exploitation of anti-racist and anti-American sentiment, bribery, and honey traps... Key figures in the Liberal Party have long historical ties to the CCP, not least through business connections..." — Clive Hamilton, thehub.ca, June 2, 2023.

"I've often said that Chinese leaders are what I call CEO whisperers, they're very, very skillful when meeting foreigners, particularly senior foreigners. China inspires a kind of excessive affection in people and an excessive sense of wonder and a desire not to apply the usual sort of critical thinking skills, and people are seduced by it." — Former Canadian Ambassador to China David Mulroney, thehub.ca, June 2, 2023.

China has reportedly openly been trying to influence [Canadian PM] Justin Trudeau for the past ten years. One unnamed CSIS source said that the CCP had its eyes on Justin Trudeau well before he became prime minister.

Trudeau, during his first election campaign in 2016, visited the homes of "wealthy Chinese-Canadians for private fundraising events. Some of the hosts had close connections with the CCP and had been actively promoting Beijing's takeover of islands in the South China Sea." -- Professor Clive Hamilton, in his book, Hidden Hand: Exposing How the Chinese Communist Party is Reshaping the World.

The influence of the CCP is so pervasive that Canada's minister of environment, Steven Guilbeault, at the same time as being Canadian minister, is also an "official adviser to the Chinese government." – torontosun.com, August 16,

China...is a real threat to Canada's sovereignty. "Recent Chinese actions and announcements are pointing to Beijing's determination to have a military capability in the region that will exceed that of Canada." -- Rob Hueber, senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute and associate professor of political science at the University of Calgary, theglobeandmail.com, August 25-27, 2023

"What has not received as much attention is a research paper, published in 2021, in which Chinese scientists explain their success in developing Arctic-resilient underwater listening systems. The paper says the listening systems are for peaceful purposes, but the actual ramifications of the HABs [high-altitude balloons], buoys and research systems are inescapable. China is refining its means of monitoring the Canadian North." -- Rob Hueber, senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute and associate professor of political science at the University of Calgary, theglobeandmail.com, August 27, 2023

"China will very soon enjoy a major advantage in monitoring Arctic waters, especially under the surface, and it will have confidence that Canada has little ability to see what is going on or do anything about it. Factor in the overwhelming evidence of Beijing's efforts to target and interfere in our political system – and our reluctance or inability to respond to these actions – and the larger threat to Canada's very sovereignty comes starkly into view." -- Rob Hueber, senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute and associate professor of political science at the University of Calgary, theglobeandmail.com, August 27, 2023

The Tar-Baby is the second of the Uncle Remus tales published in the United States in 1881. In it, the evil Br'er Fox conjures a doll made of tar and turpentine with which to entrap the Br'er Rabbit. The more the victim tries to shake himself free, the more entangled he becomes.

These days, of course, some policymakers and analysts insist that the tar-baby has changed. They claim that Tehran's "unacceptable behavior" in the past was due to fears by the radical Khomeinist faction that the "other side", that is to say, those who commend a deal with the US, might succeed and use their success to exclude the radicals. According to that narrative, the radicals are now in control of all levers of power, and no longer fear being dislodged by "reform-seekers" linked to Washington. Thus, embracing the remade tar-baby may not be as risky as it was for almost four decades.

This message has also been sent to some 8 million Iranians in the diaspora who fear that returning home even for a holiday may get them stuck with the tar-baby.

Last month, Iran's Chief Justice Ayatollah Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje'i called on Iranian exiles to "come home whenever you like. You won't be arrested at the airport. We just take your passport for a few days and if there is any cause for investigation that will be done quickly."

A similar message has been sent by President Ebrahim Raisi to foreigners who wish to invest in Iran. The recent release of several foreign hostages may give credence to that invitation. Right now, however, China, India, and Russia, not to mention the European Union and Japan, still seem unwilling to embrace the tar baby.

Raisi hopes to address those concerns when he attends the UN General Assembly session in New York. The "usual suspects," who always tried to soften the image of the "tar baby", are preparing a platform for him to play that new tune.

Will anyone be seduced?