Beijing's Ultimatums and Canadian Conciliation

"Recently, certain self-serving political actors who do not hesitate to collude with foreign anti-Chinese powers, luring young extremist activists to be their cannon fodder, have continuously violated the peace of Hong Kong..."
The Council of Newcomer Organizations  Chinese Canadian Times

"Our taxpayer money should have never been used to fund such organizations and activities."
"By doing so, our government is using taxpayers' money to enable CCP [Chinese Communist Party] influence and infiltration into our society and politics."
"This is a total betrayal of Canadian voters."
Ivy Li, spokeswoman, Canadian Friends of Hong Kong

Chinese Consul General in Toronto, Han Tao, references the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China at the 2019 Toronto Dragon Fesitval.   Youtube

"[It is] very troubling [that Ottawa helped pay for an event — the Dragon Festival — that marked a totalitarian state’s anniversary]." 
"[The Chinese consulate] should be funding the whole thing, and then they can make whatever speech they want."
Cheuk Kwan, Toronto Association for Democracy in China

Canada has a huge expatriate Chinese-Canadian community, many of whom arrived in the country as early as a century and a half ago, to establish themselves as Canadian citizens, becoming railway workers, small shop owners of dry cleaning establishments, restaurateurs, variety stores, fruiterers, and others. They faced prejudice and oppression but determinedly made their home in Canada, their heritage and culture becoming integrated within the wider Canadian culture, while retaining their heritage.

Canada now hosts thousands of Chinese exchange students more recently entering Canada, as well as more recent immigrants from China whose links to their place of birth remain strong. In the recent (months-long) protests taking place in Hong Kong, the Chinese community has been divided, with many supporting the passion for Hong Kongers's independence, and others intolerant of this view and challenging it, to the extent of considering those supporting the Hong Kong protests against China's full sovereign control, as traitors.

China's global reputation is not quite of benign sterling value. From its exploitation of other nations' natural resources, to its imbalanced trade accounts, and its occupation of other ethnic groups' territories claiming it as their own, to harassing and imprisoning religious groups in China, complete with accusations of organ harvesting and imprisoning of millions of Chinese Uyghurs and Fallon Gong members.

Huawei research and development centre at Dongguan, China. Andy Wong/AP

More latterly, Canada and China, erstwhile partners in trade, have fallen out diplomatically with Canada detaining the CFO of Huawei Technologies on a treaty warrant for extradition issued by the U.S. State Department, to which Beijing responded by arresting two Canadians for 'espionage', and another two Canadians charged with drug smuggling from lengthy prison sentences to death sentences. It has also used a sledgehammer against Canadian export to China of canola products, pork and beef. While threatening 'consequences' should Canada refuse to allow Huawei to partner with Canada's 5G upgrade.

Canada has meekly made representation to Chinese authorities on behalf of the two detained Canadians, Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, both held under brutally demeaning prison conditions and 'soft' torture. Canada's unwillingness to react more forcefully under Beijing's bullying where its top government agents studiously ignore overtures from their Canadian counterparts, strikes a sour note when it is revealed that arms of the Canadian government use taxpayer money to help fund official China's activities in Canada.

China practices its indisputable own public diplomacy, advocating abroad for its interests within the global community. And despite the souring of relations between the two countries, over $130,000 in federal funds was awarded a Chinese Canadian group which published an advertisement condemning democracy protesters in Hong Kong in a reflection of Beijing's Hong Kong policy. Clearly this does not sit well with Canadians fuming at the shabby treatment Beijing is doling out to Canadian citizens.

Chinese-Canadian backers of the Confucius Institute rally 
SayNo ToCI/Youtube

The supposedly "non-political" Council of Newcomer Organizations which has received Heritage Canada funding was heavily involved in the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China with a multicultural grant of $62,000 to the "Dragon Festival" festivities through the Canadian Association of Chinese Performing Arts. To be sure, Heritage Canada proffers similar funding to other Canadian ethnic groups, but none others are as hostile to Canadian values as is China.

The head of the newcomer council founded by Liberal Member of Parliament Geng Tan was invited alongside the head of the performing arts group to fly to Beijing to attend the founding celebration in the Chinese capital. The Newcomers Council executive chairman stated that he wept while witnessing the military parade of China's latest weaponry and marching military through Tiananmen Square in the realization of how much he "loved the motherland". Which is fine, why not? But remember also loyalty to his current country and its democratic values and normatives.

The issue here is that China is engrossed in soft-power outreach, and has no need for Canadian taxpayers to finance its outreach diplomacy. Particularly when it is so insulting to Canadian justice and the values held dear by Canadians. China has its own huge financial resources to support campaigns spearheaded by the United Front Work Department whose activities have come under scrutiny in Canada. It foments unrest between the pro-democracy and the pro-Beijing groups in Canada and spurs the Beijing-supporting groups to harass and threaten the others.

A float with a giant portrait of China’s President Xi Jinping passes by Tiananmen Square in Beijing on Oct. 1, 2019, to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Greg Baker/AFP/Getty Image