The Canada Border Services Agency has initiated deportation proceedings against 63-year-old Rong Xiang Yuan, founder of the Chinese community organization “Canada-China Association for Promoting Friendly Relations.” The agency accuses him of committing crimes against humanity during his service in the People’s Liberation Army. They also allege that he lied about his military experience when applying for permanent residency, while being active in Canadian politics and making donations to the Liberal Party.
According to Global News, since moving to Canada, Rong Xiang Yuan has been actively working to strengthen ties between Ottawa and Beijing for nearly two decades. He regularly participates in community events and has close connections with political figures.
He founded the Canada-China Association for Promoting Friendly Relations, an advocacy group, and has met with former Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau and made donations to both Trudeau and the Liberal Party.
The Canadian Immigration Enforcement Department now accuses this Chinese community leader, known as “Tiger,” of being a war criminal who entered Canada through deception.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has initiated deportation proceedings against Rong Xiang Yuan. Born in China and not a Canadian citizen, he denies the allegations.
The agency accuses Rong of committing crimes against humanity during his service in the People’s Liberation Army in the 1980s.
CBSA also alleges that Rong lied about his military experience when applying for Canadian permanent resident status. He obtained permanent residency in 2008.
A spokesperson for the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) stated in a statement to Global News that the CBSA has referred Rong Xiang Yuan’s case to the board for a deportation hearing.
The board stated, “We can confirm that the IRB has received the referral made by the CBSA on the case of Rong Xiang Yuan and will hold an admissibility hearing under sections 35(1)(a) and 40(1)(a) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. The hearing date has not been determined yet.”
Under the relevant laws, section 35(1)(a) applies to individuals who commit war crimes or crimes against humanity abroad and can be deported on this basis.
Section 40(1)(a) applies to individuals who have misrepresented or concealed important facts in matters leading to flawed immigration status decisions.
According to Chinese state media reports and social media posts, Rong Xiang Yuan served in China from 1979 to 1991. His lawyer stated in a letter to Global News that Rong Xiang Yuan was injured during the China-Vietnam conflict, received awards later, but denies involvement in any war crimes.
Lawyer Daniel Reid stated, “He vehemently denies having committed any war crimes.”
In the early hours of February 17, 1979, about 300,000 Chinese troops stationed in Yunnan and Guangxi provinces began a large-scale artillery barrage against the border regions adjacent to northern Vietnam. Subsequently, approximately 60,000 Chinese soldiers crossed the border killing into Vietnam, occupying 11 border towns in less than two days.
It was reported that during the conflict, most frontline Chinese soldiers ordered to shoot anyone approaching, regardless of age or gender. The Chinese-Vietnamese War ended with China’s announcement of troop withdrawal on March 7, 1979, and the full retreat by March 16. Both sides claimed victory with heavy casualties.
Following the conflict, border skirmishes between China and Vietnam continued for nearly a decade. In 1987, Rong Xiang Yuan, in his early twenties at the time, was reportedly deployed to the Vietnam border region. An article in the Chinese Communist Party’s official newspaper, People’s Daily, on March 23, 1988, described him as a platoon leader who participated in an operation that resulted in casualties while fighting against the Vietnamese army.
According to online accounts, Rong Xiang Yuan led the 13th reconnaissance unit of the People’s Liberation Army on missions in Yunnan Province, participated in combat operations, and captured Vietnamese prisoners of war.
Rong Xiang Yuan retired from the military in 1991. His lawyer claimed that he subsequently established “successful business ventures” in China and Hong Kong and immigrated to Canada in 2008 due to uncertainties in the Chinese situation.
Court and corporate records show that after moving to Canada, Rong Xiang Yuan lived in a 10,000-square-foot residence valued at $4.3 million, with seven bedrooms and nine bathrooms. The property gained media attention for being one of the most expensive homes in Chilliwack, British Columbia.
A local reporter visited the residence and counted 32 surveillance cameras on the premises. Adjacent to the residence is a 4-acre wedding venue, reportedly housing several antique cars.
Government records show Rong Xiang Yuan was a director of Tiger Arms Ltd., a firearm retailer in Port Coquitlam, and listed as a “real estate company owner” and “high-risk gambler.”
In 2015, Rong Xiang Yuan bought over $4 million in chips at the River Rock Casino in Richmond with cash, attracting scrutiny from British Columbia’s anti-money laundering authorities.
He was warned not to gamble at the casino unless he could prove the source of his cash. According to records from British Columbia’s gaming policy and enforcement branch, this measure was taken because “the nature of the cash presented at the casino does not appear to be from a recognized financial institution and may be suspect.”
Rong Xiang Yuan has never been charged with money laundering-related offenses. His lawyer stated that he “denies any involvement in money laundering.”
Rong Xiang Yuan claimed that gambling caused him to lose $10 million.
A court ruling noted, “He claimed to have borrowed a large sum of cash from a person named Jiuxiao Wang, which was used for gambling at the River Rock Casino.”
The ruling also stated, “He claimed to have repaid Mr. Wang’s loan in China.”
Rong’s lawyer stated that neither the casino, gambling regulatory authorities, nor law enforcement agencies spoke with Rong about his gambling activities.
During the period when Rong Xiang Yuan was frequently visiting the casino, the Canada-China Association for Promoting Friendly Relations CCAPFR was established. Corporate records indicate that Rong was one of the founding directors of the organization.
According to the organization’s constitution, its goal is to “promote friendly relations between Canada and China.”
Rong Xiang Yuan represented the organization at Chinese community events, delivering speeches in the presence of elected officials and Chinese consulate officials.
In 2020, Rong’s lawyer told Global News, “Tiger Rong is a successful businessman who has been actively involved in Canadian Chinese community affairs for many years.”
His lawyer also mentioned that Rong Xiang Yuan had “met many people,” including former Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau. It was reported that Trudeau met Rong Xiang Yuan at a hotel in Richmond during his first term as prime minister. A photo from a Liberal Party event in 2016 also showed Rong Xiang Yuan sitting next to Trudeau.
Following this meeting, Rong Xiang Yuan donated $1,500 to Trudeau’s riding association in Montreal. Three other Tiger Arms directors also donated $1,500 each to Trudeau, even though all four reside in British Columbia.
According to Canadian election records, in 2016, Rong Xiang Yuan donated $2,800 to the Liberal Party of Canada. Additionally, three other Tiger Arms directors and a director of the Canada-China Association collectively donated $11,500 in the same year.
British Columbia election records show that the Canada-China Association for Promoting Friendly Relations donated $1,050 to the British Columbia Liberal Party in 2017.
Media reports and social media posts indicated that Rong Xiang Yuan attended a Canada-China boxing event in 2018 with then-Liberal Member of Parliament Joe Peschisolido, organized by the association.
The two also appeared together at the opening of a high-end private club. The club was described as a “Chinese high-end private club,” inviting “celebrities from various industries,” according to news reports at the time.
Rong Xiang Yuan’s lawyer Reid stated that he had made significant contributions to Canada and the Canadian Chinese community, raising $30,000 for a wildfire-affected community in Alberta in 2016.
Reid stated, “Mr. Rong has also attended various public, social, and community events, with municipal, provincial, and federal politicians in attendance.”
In 2019, the British Columbia government dissolved the Canada-China Association for Promoting Friendly Relations for failing to submit required documents. However, Rong Xiang Yuan continued to deliver speeches at community events thereafter.
In 2023, Rong Xiang Yuan spoke at a community service association dinner in Canada. Trudeau praised the non-profit organization in a letter, stating that it had made significant contributions to the country.
Rong Xiang Yuan, dressed in red, delivered a speech in Mandarin at the event, attended by two Liberal MPs, a provincial cabinet minister, two MLAs, and a local mayor.
Kelly Sundberg, a professor of criminology at Mount Royal University in Canada, and a former CBSA official specializing in border security, stated, “Any non-citizen residing in Canada who is accused of committing war crimes is a very serious matter.”
Sundberg, in an interview, emphasized the importance of stringent immigration screenings and robust immigration policies illustrated by such cases.
He stated, “Equally concerning is that a non-citizen facing such serious allegations was able to have access to senior political figures and political networks.”
Court records from British Columbia show that Rong Xiang Yuan was involved in other legal issues. In July, the Abbotsford Police filed two criminal charges against him.
He appeared in a provincial court on September 14, facing charges of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and failure to obey lawful roadside demands. He is scheduled to appear in court this week.
The Abbotsford Police informed Global News, “I can confirm that Mr. Rong was arrested on July 19, 2026, close to midnight on Highway 1. Mr. Rong failed to comply with lawful roadside demands, leading to his arrest.”
The police added, “He was driving a pickup truck at the time of his arrest.”
Court records also show that five years ago, Rong Xiang Yuan was charged in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, for driving while prohibited, fined, and banned from driving for three months.
Similarly, in July of this year, the British Columbia government placed a lien on a Fraser Valley property listed as Rong Xiang Yuan’s residence, owing $507,000 in provincial tax arrears.