Canada-China Relations

"Establishing fake civil society NGOs is an established modus operandi of the United Front [Works Department, a secretive arm of the Chinese Communist Party whose purpose is to convince ethnic Chinese groups overseas to collaborate in supporting the government of China]."
Charles Burton, professor, Brock University, former Canadian diplomat in Beijing

"[The group -- Vancouver-based United Association of Women and Children -- seems to have] all the hallmarks [of a front organization to further Beijing's interests]."
"All but a tiny handful of Canadians of Chinese heritage are here [in Canada as immigrants] because they do not wish to be ruled or controlled by the CCP."
Jonathan Manthorpe, author, Claws of the Panda

"I think China has lots of freedom of speech. The Chinese media in China, they have very much freedom, to talk and to criticize and to make suggestions."
"The Chinese people would like to keep the good relationship to expand the business with Canada."
"But this matter [the arrest and extradition of  Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou] will damage that because people understand Canada is doing something for the benefit of America."
Chinese-Canadian lawyer Hong Guo, Vancouver

A Chinese security official stands guard in front of the Canadian embassy in Beijing, China, Jan. 15 2019.
EPA/ROMAN PILIPEY

In the news lately there has been notice of Chinese students studying in Canadian universities attempting to demoralize, harass and complain about Canadians of Uyghur and Tibetan heritage speaking on Canadian university campuses about their ethnic groups' trials and tribulations with the Chinese Peoples Republic, calling on the universities to see that such talks are not permitted since they are insulting to China's sterling reputation on human rights.

Now, news of another group representing Chinese immigrants to Canada invested in pursuing China's interests within Canadian politics and the rule of law has come to the attention of the news media. Chinese groups working surreptitiously to influence Canadian politics, raising funds for Liberal governments, federal and provincial, posing for photographs with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau while being connected to the Chinese political hierarchy.

Following Huawei's Meng Wanzhou's detention by Canadian authorities awaiting extradition to the U.S. on fraud charges, two Canadians were detained while doing business in China and charged with plotting against China; both are being held in prison, subjected to torture and interrogation while another Canadian whose prison sentence for smuggling drugs was updated to capital punishment for his crime, have the two countries at diplomatic loggerheads.

And into the fray enters Canada's Foreign Affairs Department. Even while one of their own diplomatic employees on temporary leave, Michael Kovrig languishes in a Chinese prison along with businessman Michael Spavor, both randomly picked up and charged as an obvious reciprocal challenge to Canada to release Ms. Wanzhou, here is the director-general of the north Asia bureau pitching for the Canada-China Scholarship Exchange Program at the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa.

"My department is proud to support the CCSEP and is eager to see a broader representation of Canadians from across the country at the university and college level [travel to China to study there]."
"[Strong] people-to-people connections have been the bedrock of our dynamic bilateral relationship [ and both countries view] education co-operation [as a strategic priority]."
"And that priority is easy to see. China is Canada's most important source of international students with more than 140,000 Chinese students on campuses of Canadian institutions."

"It sends the message to the Chinese that, no matter what we say, we want the relationship to continue as if nothing had happened. I simply can't see us holding such an event with any other country if they were holding two of our citizens hostage."
"[Canada's continued engagement with China on the education exchange is indicative of its] national myopia [relating to the People's Republic]."
David Mulroney, former Canadian ambassador to China

"These exchanges provide international academic experience to both Canadian and Chinese students and researchers -- and foster co-operation between our two countries."
"[Canada continues to call for the release of Kovrig and Spavor after their arbitrary detentions, but relations benefit from student exchanges]."
Adam Austen, spokesman, Foreign Affairs

And take note: even while the government of Canada continues to promote the exchange program where Canadian colleges and universities sweep up enormous tuition fees, the travel advisory for Canadians contemplating travel to China through the Government of Canada website reads:

China - Exercise a high degree of caution
Exercise a high degree of caution in China due to the risk of arbitrary enforcement of local laws; risk of arbitrary enforcement of local laws; Laws and culture - death penalty, penalties for drug-related offences

Exercise a high degree of caution
There are identifiable safety and security concerns or the safety and security situation could change with little notice. You should exercise a high degree of caution at all times, monitor local media and follow the instructions of local authorities.

Michael Kovrig (left) and Michael Spavor, the two Canadians detained in China, are shown in these 2018 images taken from video. Canadian diplomats have been granted consular access to one of two Canadians detained in China.  THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP