I think he is absolutely right to be concerned. In the mid-1990s, my unit published a report on project Sidewinder; we examined the influence exerted by Chinese companies, specifically through diplomatic channels. For instance, Elections Canada reporting revealed that the Chinese embassy had given money to all the political parties during the election campaign, in clear contravention of the Canada Elections Act.
The Chinese government's ploy is to gain influence, either by buying goodwill or by recruiting people to become agents of influence. Stalin had a name for people like that: useful idiots. China wants to acquire a lot more influence with politicians, as well as academic and business leaders, so it can influence our country's political and trade destiny.