ISTANBUL

China on Tuesday said that Beijing has no “interest in interfering in Canada's internal affairs” after Ottawa alleged that China, India, Pakistan, and Russia could meddle with the upcoming elections.

“China has always adhered to the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries and has never had any interest in interfering in Canada's internal affairs,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told reporters in the capital Beijing, reported state media.

On Monday, Vanessa Lloyd, deputy director of Canada’s spy agency, alleged that China, India, Russia, and Pakistan could attempt to meddle in the upcoming federal polls scheduled for April 28.

Lloyd had said that it was “highly likely” Beijing would utilize artificial intelligence tools and social media to interfere in the election.

“We have also seen that the government of India has the intent and capability to interfere in Canadian communities and democratic processes to assert its geopolitical influence,” Lloyd said during a briefing on the election's integrity.

The deputy director also alleged that Russia has tried to build “dissemination networks” on social media and news platforms that can be used to “conduct foreign information manipulation and interference operations directed at Canadians.”