Isn't It Time We Start Kickin' Ass

Rather than kissing it in our relations with China. What is the worse that can happen? Possibly some of the jobs that no longer exist in Canada will come home? More Chinese people are emigrating to Canada than Canadians are immigrating to China and that has to tell us something. Everyone makes a big thing of Trudeau's opening the door to China, and let's not forget Cuba, and I would question if either of these relationships have made Canada stronger. To me "adroitly" is just another way of saying; "kissing ass!"

Harper's China test
Nov. 16, 2006. 01:00 AM

Prime Minister Stephen Harper needs to stake out not only a principled policy on China, but also a nuanced one, before his government presides over the crumbling of 36 years of mutual goodwill and trade.

President Hu Jintao's sudden disinclination to meet Harper one-on-one at the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation forum in Hanoi is a clear signal that the relationship is in trouble at the top. That does not serve either nation's interest.

The Chinese are miffed at the Conservatives' robust criticism of their shabby human rights record, and of their abuse of Chinese-Canadian Huseyin Celil. Beijing also bridled at Ottawa's claim that China is busy spying on industry. And China protested when Ottawa made Tibet's Dalai Lama an honorary citizen.

Canadian business also fears the Tories are less engaged on trade.

While Harper is right to insist he won't cave in to Chinese pressure not to raise human rights issues or "sell out ... our belief in democracy, freedom, human rights" for trade deals, Canadians expect their government to deftly manage both files.

But as Harper arrives in Hanoi, Hu has scuppered their first official meeting, needlessly marring Harper's first Asian trip.

This fit of pique is China's loss, as much as Canada's. Canada and China do $30 billion in trade and Beijing prizes us as a valued source of raw materials to fuel China's fast-growing $2 trillion economy. That partnership cannot be taken for granted.

More than 1 million Canadians are of Chinese descent, making us family as well as business partners. Both nations also have a mutual interest in bilateral investment, fighting disease and environmental degradation, maintaining international order and thwarting terror.

Still, Beijing must accept that Canadians expect their prime ministers and cabinet to press for political pluralism, free markets, religious freedom and free speech, at the same time as they plump for trade, investment and tourism. Hu's diplomatic snit won't wash well here.

Even so, in dealing with Beijing's authoritarian rulers on volatile issues of freedom and rights, Harper must take care to preserve contact at the top. That way, Canada's deeply held values and vital commercial interests both get a hearing.

Since 1970 when Pierre Trudeau opened diplomatic ties, Canadian governments have managed the relationship adroitly, pressing the case for human rights, open markets and property rights without sending relations into a death spiral. The Harper Conservatives should learn from past experience.