"Seduced By Asia"
Anyone remember Lloyd Axworthy's talk of "soft power" for Canada as a way to ingratiate ourselves into world opinion? Our much-vaunted United Nations' peace-keeping role for our military was one facet of "soft power". This was, of course, during the Chretien years. And another kind of "soft power" was for Canada to meet and greet and travel to and exchange trade opportunities with China. In which interest much fanfare and hoopla took place with Jean Chretien as the enterprising Prime Minister of Canada leading a succession of "trade missions" to China.
Nicely paving the way for his own glorified entree to private business opportunities post-prime-ministership. And his tongue-lashing directed at the current Conservative government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper for his disinterest in courting China through increased trade, neatly overlooking human rights problems that exist there. Canada appears to have mended its initially-surly attitude toward coasting on Chretien's China initiative-coattails, when Mr. Harper met with the Dalai Lama to the great consternation of China.
And things are opening up between Canada and China. Large investments by China in Canada's oil extraction industry in Alberta. China newly promising to look into the feasibility of adding Canada to China's burgeoning tourism industry, with the prospect of newly-wealthy Chinese dropping some of their yuans here. And Leader of the Official Opposition overlooking the very real likelihood of harvesting of prisoners' and members of Falun Gong practitioners' organs to claim that Canada has its human rights problems, too.
The larger reality is that nations do need to come together. If one nation practises the democratic ideal and has a fairly good human rights record, the other may eventually begin to re-think its strategies revolving about both. Could be. Could be that as was recently hinted at by CSIS's top gun that China has been cleverly seducing Canadian elites, academics, politicians and inveigling itself into outcomes that do not reflect very well on ourselves to the gratification of China's agenda of infiltration.
All countries do that kind of thing, by and large. Make attempts, sometimes skilled, sometimes clumsy, at public relations, trying to get others to consider things their way. Propaganda can sometimes result in successful outcomes. And if the Chinese aren't skilled at that kind of stuff, who is, after all? Even little tin-pot politicians like Ottawa's mayor has been suborned (er, persuaded to look askance at the Falun Gong) after a trip to China and being wined and dined beyond his expectations. It's China's version of "soft power".
And it's nothing short of brilliant tactics to fund university courses in Mandarin and Chinese culture and society, in tandem with willing universities abroad. Confucius Institutes have spread throughout the world in short order, hundreds of them since 2004. China's head of the worldwide Confucious Institute claims the 500th such Institute-offshoot will be opened this year; this initiative has been a runaway success, vastly surpassing Chinese expectations.
Makes sense; the Chinese enigma is such no longer; it is now a runaway economic, social success story of immense dimensions. Who isn't interested in China? It dominates the world economy and its politics are a source of great debate. It has powerful sway in questionable parts of the world, and has the confidence to know its place on the world stage. In Canada there are now 7 Confucius Institutes, where universities have agreed to accept a collaboration.
Canadian universities give the Institute free space and in exchange they have a new degree program, one that is funded from abroad, and even staffed by foreign nationals; experts in the field of language and culture: Chinese themselves. Notably, some universities in Canada, like UBC and U.Toronto, for example, want nothing to do with the program. Because of the hidden, and not-so-hidden agenda.
In a word: social-cultural infiltration, beyond the exchange of intellectual and language verities. Where a very subtle exertion is placed on university administrators to toe a certain Chinese line in exchange for funding they don't wish to have withdrawn. To look far more kindly on Chinese
State sensibilities, for example. In exchange for scholarships, travel opportunities, that kind of nice stuff.
Let's face it, it's a collaboration of convenience and great opportunities. At a cost, to be sure, but not necessarily at a cost. A program that enriches our wealth of knowledge, that offers those interested the opportunity to learn more about a fascinating heritage and culture, one that pre-dated the current political culture, is an amazing plus. Not to mention the language opportunities. One just has to be aware of one's ethical-moral balance.
We're 'normalizing China' with our eyes wide shut. Open them, and we can play our own game of inherited wisdom.
Nicely paving the way for his own glorified entree to private business opportunities post-prime-ministership. And his tongue-lashing directed at the current Conservative government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper for his disinterest in courting China through increased trade, neatly overlooking human rights problems that exist there. Canada appears to have mended its initially-surly attitude toward coasting on Chretien's China initiative-coattails, when Mr. Harper met with the Dalai Lama to the great consternation of China.
And things are opening up between Canada and China. Large investments by China in Canada's oil extraction industry in Alberta. China newly promising to look into the feasibility of adding Canada to China's burgeoning tourism industry, with the prospect of newly-wealthy Chinese dropping some of their yuans here. And Leader of the Official Opposition overlooking the very real likelihood of harvesting of prisoners' and members of Falun Gong practitioners' organs to claim that Canada has its human rights problems, too.
The larger reality is that nations do need to come together. If one nation practises the democratic ideal and has a fairly good human rights record, the other may eventually begin to re-think its strategies revolving about both. Could be. Could be that as was recently hinted at by CSIS's top gun that China has been cleverly seducing Canadian elites, academics, politicians and inveigling itself into outcomes that do not reflect very well on ourselves to the gratification of China's agenda of infiltration.
All countries do that kind of thing, by and large. Make attempts, sometimes skilled, sometimes clumsy, at public relations, trying to get others to consider things their way. Propaganda can sometimes result in successful outcomes. And if the Chinese aren't skilled at that kind of stuff, who is, after all? Even little tin-pot politicians like Ottawa's mayor has been suborned (er, persuaded to look askance at the Falun Gong) after a trip to China and being wined and dined beyond his expectations. It's China's version of "soft power".
And it's nothing short of brilliant tactics to fund university courses in Mandarin and Chinese culture and society, in tandem with willing universities abroad. Confucius Institutes have spread throughout the world in short order, hundreds of them since 2004. China's head of the worldwide Confucious Institute claims the 500th such Institute-offshoot will be opened this year; this initiative has been a runaway success, vastly surpassing Chinese expectations.
Makes sense; the Chinese enigma is such no longer; it is now a runaway economic, social success story of immense dimensions. Who isn't interested in China? It dominates the world economy and its politics are a source of great debate. It has powerful sway in questionable parts of the world, and has the confidence to know its place on the world stage. In Canada there are now 7 Confucius Institutes, where universities have agreed to accept a collaboration.
Canadian universities give the Institute free space and in exchange they have a new degree program, one that is funded from abroad, and even staffed by foreign nationals; experts in the field of language and culture: Chinese themselves. Notably, some universities in Canada, like UBC and U.Toronto, for example, want nothing to do with the program. Because of the hidden, and not-so-hidden agenda.
In a word: social-cultural infiltration, beyond the exchange of intellectual and language verities. Where a very subtle exertion is placed on university administrators to toe a certain Chinese line in exchange for funding they don't wish to have withdrawn. To look far more kindly on Chinese
State sensibilities, for example. In exchange for scholarships, travel opportunities, that kind of nice stuff.
Let's face it, it's a collaboration of convenience and great opportunities. At a cost, to be sure, but not necessarily at a cost. A program that enriches our wealth of knowledge, that offers those interested the opportunity to learn more about a fascinating heritage and culture, one that pre-dated the current political culture, is an amazing plus. Not to mention the language opportunities. One just has to be aware of one's ethical-moral balance.
We're 'normalizing China' with our eyes wide shut. Open them, and we can play our own game of inherited wisdom.
Labels: Canada, China, Human Relations, Politics of Convenience
posted by Pieface | 7:37 PM
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