An investigation into a claim by a former senior member of staff of the China – led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), that that the institution is controlled by the Chinese communist party, leading Canada to freeze ties with the bank.
Bob Pickard, AIIB’s global communication director, handed his resignation and claims the bank as “dominated by the communist party”.
Chrystia Freeland, finance minister, announced the decision to freeze ties with AIIB. She said, no outcome is ruled out pending investigation. The outcome may result in Ottawa pulling out of a bank it officially joined in March 2018.
She added, all government led activities at the bank will come to an immediate halt, and an immediate investigation to be conducted in view of the allegations, and Canada’s dealings with AIIB.
AIIB, founded in 2016, to fund railways and various other infrastructures, having 106member governments, including Australia, Canada, Russia, the United Kingdom, France and most of the Asian countries.
AIIB, dismissed 58- year – old Pickard’s allegations as “disappointing and baseless” and is proud of its 65 different nationalities represented by its staff. The allegations were “pure sensationalism and complete lie” reported the Chinese embassy in Ottawa.
Pickard, worked at AIIB for 15 months, and informed on twitter that he did not have an option, as a “patriotic Canadian” he had to resign. He complained the bank was controlled by “communist party hacks”, a strict regime mimicking Nazi Germany. He started that there is no imaginable culture more toxic than the bank. The leadership of AIIB does not serves Canada’s interest.
Canada was taken into AIIB by prime minister Justin Trudeau, the opposition conservatives demanded that Ottawa pull out as they felt it is a tool for Beijing to meddle using authoritarianism.
Beijing has denied the allegations, of Canada accusing China of trying to interfere in its affairs using various methods, including election interference and illegal police stations.
According to the banks financial statement in 2022, AIIB consists of an asset based of $ 47.4 billion and a Chinese national Jin Liqun as it’s president, and Briton, Indian, German and a Russian as vice presidents.
