[cltsang]

In China, you see foreign people on billboards and TV ads all the time, especially ads of luxury products. Chinese people, deep down, don't really trust Chinese.

Having foreign people to side with Ms. Meng is a tactic to buy credibility to make her look innocent and just. The nature is no different than other white monkey jobs (I don't have any racist intention) in China.

[LorenPechtel]

Yup. We have relatives over there and any extra luggage space is filled with routine things because they trust the stuff bought in the US a lot more than the stuff bought there. We even just got a request from her sister for genuine Apple batteries for a couple of her devices. (Not possible, they're only sold with installation.)

[EliRivers]

Ah, so is the target audience in this case not Canada; not the Canadian justice system; but Chinese people in China who will see this on the news?

[blaser-waffle]

For sure, but also keep in mind there is a huge Chinese ex-pat community in Vancouver and Toronto. Richmond, BC isn't a Chinatown, it's basically a China-city. Fun place, actually -- the Aberdeen Mall is great.

Point is, selling it hard internationally is a thing, but there are local demographics that this will play to as well.

[TheOperator]

Yeah so long as the revelations of the paid protesters don't hit the Chinese language newspapers in China than mission accomplished I guess.

[cltsang]

Yes I think so.

[duxup]

There were some good stories about US folks living in China who made some good side money putting on a suit and being paid to show up at ribbon cuttings and other visible PR events. Often they weren't identified in any way.

The idea was just having what appeared to be a connection to the west would imply legitimate business connections and thus good prospects.