An exclusive video posted online this week by theBreaker.news shows a woman, who was at the forefront of the pro-China rally in Vancouver in August, identifying herself as an event assistant for Steveston-Richmond East MP Joe Peschisolido at his campaign office opening.
But Peschisolido’s communication director Kevin Li claimed that Eileen Chen has no role in Peschisolido’s re-election campaign for the upcoming federal election.
On Aug. 17, Chen attended the pro-China rally when competing rallies between pro-Hong Kong and pro-China demonstrators took over the entrance next to the Broadway-City Hall Canada Line station in Vancouver. She was seen waving a Chinese flag and singing the Chinese national anthem.
As seen in the video initially captured by documentary filmmaker Ina Mitchell at Peschisolido’s campaign office opening event on Sep. 15, Chen said that she is Peschisolido’s events assistant in the Chinese community.
When pressed for details, Chen directed Mitchell to contact Peschisolido’s assistant Michael Wong, who was described as a campaign manager by Chen. The video was later provided to theBreaker.News and posted online.
However, Li denied Chen’s involvement in this election campaign and stressed that there is no such role called event assistant.
“In the video, it’s clear that she struggled with the questions in English. There is no such role of event assistant in our campaign,” Li said in a written statement, “it’s questionable on why she chose to say that on Sept. 15. Also, she clearly does not understand the operations of our campaign because Michael is not the campaign manager.”
Li added that they also conducted an investigation regarding the issue and found that event guests were under the impression Chen was representing Peschisolido on more than one occasion. However, she was never asked to attend any events as a campaign representative.
Chen did not respond to requests for comment. Chen is the chief executive of CYC Royal International Culture Co., an event planning and advertising company that has offices in several cities in China.
Peschisolido is seeking re-election this fall.
