The Beijing Specialty of Hostage Diplomacy

Michael Spavor, pictured in 2017  | AP

"When you have multiple countries' citizens detained, all of whom have one thing in common, which is that they have tense relations with China, it suggests a pattern. Certainly there is a pattern of China relying on hostage diplomacy."                                     "One obvious avenue is -- and this will be highly controversial -- that China relies heavily on food imports from around the world to feed its population. That includes Canadian corn and grain and so if there's a collective effort by countries such as Australia and Canada that supply a disproportionate amount of basic foodstuffs to China it would send a clear signal that if you're going to play like that, we have ways of causing pain."                                                                                                                          "If this is the way the Chinese do business, then maybe we need to do business with the Chinese on their terms."   Christian Leuprecht, political science professor, Royal Military College, Queen's University

Michael Spavor, a Canadian diplomat on leave, and working in China for a Canadian non-profit has spent 18 months in a Chinese prison in an arrest and a year later, charges of espionage for the purpose of harming China, widely recognized as retaliation for the detaining in Canada of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou. This event also began the diplomatic and trade erosion between the two countries that has produced a stalemate. 

Ms. Weng, wanted on a U.S. extradition warrant will be turned over to U.S. authorities to stand trial on the charges brought against her by the U.S., which has Canada honouring its extradition treaty with its southern neighbour. And Mr. Spavor, along with another Canadian, entrepreneur Michael Kovrig, arrested on the same specious charges, will continue to languish in the Chinese prison system with the threat of a long prison sentence before them following a mock trial.

Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during the G20 summit in Hangzhou, China, in September 2016. | REUTERS

 Before becoming prime minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau was once asked which country he most admired. Canada was not his candidate, China was as he professed  his admiration for a 'basic dictatorship, capable of turning a country's authority around on a dime, as it were. Mr. Trudeau appeared besotted by China, and harboured an ambition to forge robust trade ties with the communist country, an ambition he had in common with Canadian big business all of whom wanted an opportunity to reach into the promise of doing business with the trading behemoth.

More latterly, an Australian news anchor working out of Beijing was placed under house arrest, linked to the escalation of tensions between Australia and China. She too may eventually be charged with 'espionage' on the basis of having written something unfavourable about China for her home audience of Australia. Detained since mid-August, Cheng Lei, born in China, now a citizen of Australia, is being "held under residential surveillance". 

Australia is guilty of having pushed for an enquiry over China's handling of the COVID-19 outbreak in the early days of COVID-19. Ever since that breach of confidence in Beijing's sterling behaviour on the world scene, the Chinese Communist Party leaders have expressed contempt for the Australian government, embarking on a trade war,  just as was done with Canada, when China embargoed canola products and meat claiming they had been infected and were substandard, refusing to accept them, as a trade pressure-point.

The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) released a new report finding that China has been more involved in the use of this typically coercive diplomacy, tracing incidents occurring across 28 countries. Included are the United Kingdom, Australia and other Asian countries severely displeasing Beijing. Predictably, in all such cases, Beijing views those nations that have dispeased it as having taken 'wrong action', recommending that they admit their guilt, apologize, reverse the wrong action, otherwise there is guaranteed deterioration in country-to-country relations.

According to the Australian report, offensive diplomatic incidents leading to hostage diplomacy arose in 2018, with "divide and conquer" tactics emanating from the Chinese Politboro. The rest of the world, it was suggested could take action, countering the situation through multilateral institutions acting in concert. There were 152 instances of coercive measures made use of by the Chinese regime, with 34 of those taking place in the first eight months of 2020. "Unless states can come up with a better strategy to resist coercive diplomacy, we can expect this trend to continue", noted Fergus Hanson, Emilia Currey and Tracy Beattie, the ASPI report authors.

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India and China dispute the border in the Ladakh region, both claiming part of the area as their own.

An increasing number of countries are beginning to recognize and speak out on the Chinese government's behaviour. Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan and India among them. In the U.K. the treatment of the Turkic minority Uighurs in Xinjiang province being placed in reeducation camps by the hundreds of thousands; the mistreatment of  Tibetan Buddhists and Kazahks; while Beijing's bullying in the East China Sea over a disputed island claimed by Japan, and violently claiming disputed rights over India's Himalayan borders all mark Beijing's growing aggression.

For The Greater Good

"Anger and frustration due to the University's refusal to remove the statue has been building in our community for some time."

"In June of this year, almost ten thousand people signed a petition by a Ryerson student calling for the statue to be taken down."

"These community members, Indigenous students, faculty, and staff must finally be heard."

Continuing Education Students at Ryerson (CESAR) petition

"For years, students, staff, and faculty of our university have been advocating for the removal of the statue of Egerton Ryerson, a key architect of the residential school system that caused the deaths and traumatization of generations of Indigenous people."

Corey Scott, executive director, CESAR

Students petition to remove Egerton Ryerson statue on campus (again) Campus News

"At the end of the day, I think it's because these are people who know they'll never do anything great enough to have a statue erected of themselves."

"And so they holler and whine and stomp about until statues of people they disagree with politically and who did great things and built this country and our institutions are erased from the face of our country."

"He is in large part responsible for the wonderful institution of public education that we enjoy today as Canadians. That's something worthy of honour and reverence."

Marshall Darbyshire, president, Ryerson Campus Conservatives

"Many children did not complete even primary school, as schools were not available everywhere, teacher training was spotty at best, and education was not valued by parents of children who were going to work the farm, become a tradesman, or were going to get married and look after the house."

"Ryerson introduced a common curriculum, common textbooks, teacher training, and ultimately required attendance, in order to create a literate population, which he believed necessary for the development of the colony, later the province."

Ron Stagg, history professor, Ryerson University

Egerton Ryerson was chief superintendent of education for Canada West, a man who instituted huge advances in the public system of education in the geographic area of a nascent Province of Ontario. In 1948, Ryerson Technical Institute, later to become Ryerson University in Toronto was named after Egerton Ryerson in recognition of his educational achievements, most particularly his establishing of the public education system in the province. A statue was erected of Egerton Ryerson to stand in proud recognition of his accomplishments.

Three members of Black Lives Matter protesters took it upon themselves to show their disdain for a man they deride as having been a racist, by vandalizing the statue, covering it in pink paint. Because Black Lives Matter has made such waves in the news, and society in general appears to be genuflecting to its  purported cause in support of Black equality, dignity and opportunity, there were presumably no charges laid and a metaphorical shrug ensued, leading to a second vandalization when green paint was splashed on the statue.

A general, universal sweep of historical figures reveal them to have been socially and politically representative of the tenor of their times. People of extraordinary foresight and public service were being scrutinized to discover whether any possible bigoted taint lurked in their personal backgrounds. And much was unearthed to detail issues of the time generally accepted in society as a given, when these individuals of social, political, historical standing supported the generally accepted attitudes then prevailing, and now condemned as unacceptable, abusive of human rights and equality.

Egerton Ryerson was a man of many parts, a Methodist minister, an author, an editor, and an education revolutionary of the 19th century. So it made good sense that a statue would be erected to his honour to commemorate his historical contributions to the province and its future that so greatly benefited from his presence, to stand before the university that bears his name. This was also a man who had involved himself as one of the architects of the now-disgraced residential school system.

This was a network of residential schools operated mostly by religious groups in collaboration with government agencies, where Indigenous children were involuntarily taken from their homes to live in residence where they were taught to be 'civilized', to become model citizens of the future. Where, instead of growing within the tribal structure and inherited culture of the reserve system they were meant to receive a well rounded education to prepare them for their futures.

In many instances, children were taken from dysfunctional families, while in many others children were scooped from their parental homes simply because they were identified as Aboriginal and needful of a white man's education; the 'white man's burden of obligation to those less fortunate'. They were taught discipline and how to care for themselves, along with the 'three Rs' of reading, w/riting and 'rithmatic. They were not permitted to speak their ancestral language. They were homesick.

But out of the experience of emotional deprivation in removal from the family hearth, they also received an education that would otherwise not have been theirs, and many among them were later grateful for the opportunity. They became the quiet, then the silent voices throughout the upheaval of vocal and very loud and florid accusations of white men depriving Indigenous children of their heritage -- and claims of mistreatment were rampant.

The vandalized statue of Egerton Ryerson. Ernest Doroszuk/Postmedia

Now that Black Lives Matter has arisen putting the spotlight on a social boil to be lanced only by the degrading of 'white' and the elevation of 'black', a social alliance between Black and Indigenous has resulted. And Egerton Ryerson has become one of the current-day victims, despised by his detractors as a racist bigot. When he was a man concerned that all children receive an education to prepare them for their future, among them Aboriginal children.

The petition that the group CESAR presented to the University calls on Ryerson president Mohamed Lachemi to end "the glorification and whitewashing of our colonial history", by ordering that the statue be removed from public view. An estimated 150,000 Indigenous children were held to have attended residential schools across the country. Many claimed to have been the victims of physical, verbal and sexual abuse. Somewhat like the British aristocracy sending their offspring to 'public schools', live-in, costly private academies for a formal education which often included physical, verbal and sexual abuse.

Egerton Ryerson's ideas were influential in the establishment of the residential schools. And his ideas which were so valuable across the board in creating excellence in the school system of the fledgling province were valuable to the residential schools as well, ensuring a practical curriculum in a setting that provided for the health and nutritional needs of growing children. From a large constituency of tribal people who resented being patronized and the forced parting with their children.

In 2018, a plaque was attached to Egerton Ryerson's statue, in acknowledgement of his role in residential schools; an effort to bring perspective to his presence. That will not satisfy his impassioned detractors. "I believe it is an incredibly valuable attribute of any university that controversial subjects are discussed publicly, attitudes are challenged, and alternatives are suggested and considered -- sometimes this involves protests like the one we experienced this weekend", read a statement issued by university president Mohamed Lachemi.

Which sounds suspiciously like a preamble to a craven decision forced by the temper of the times.

Photo by Alan L Brown

Without Fear Or Favour

"For years now, left-wing protesters and media have levelled thuggish, inhumane pressure at the attorney general to get him to file an indictment against me at any cost, even when there's nothing there."
"This pressure is now reaching a climax. They're trying to force the attorney general to brazenly intervene in the elections by ordering me to a hearing, despite knowing that it won't be possible to conclude the hearing process by election day. It's unconscionable to start a hearing process before elections that can't be concluded by the elections."
"During the investigations, I demanded a confrontation [routine under Israeli law] with the state's witnesses. I wanted to look them in the eyes and show them the truth. I asked twice and was rejected."
"What do they have to be afraid of? What are they hiding? I am not afraid. I do not have anything to hide. Therefore, tonight, I repeat my demand for a confrontation with state's witnesses. I am certain that I am right."
"The police recommendations regarding me and my wife don’t surprise anyone, nor does the transparent timing of their publication."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, Jan. 6, 2019. Early elections may be Netanyahu's best offensive defense against criminal investigations he has deemed a "witch hunt."

Credit:   Gali Tibbon/Reuters

"Such utterances seek to harm the deepest foundations of the rule of law. They are irresponsible."
Avichal Mandelblit, Israeli attorney general

"Even the parties to the right of the Likud, who are trying to pull votes from Netanyahu’s party, are not challenging his leadership and agree that he will be the next prime minister."
"Israeli society is divided, and these are identity politics. Netanyahu’s voters see this as an issue of community, almost family. In contrast to the left, which is based on universalism, equality, human rights, and has distanced itself from instincts of belonging, Netanyahu talks about Jewish community and superiority.  To many, that is like a comforting warm embrace."
"Macroeconomic indicators are good, socioeconomic gaps are becoming smaller, the security situation is fairly stable, and unemployment is at a low of [3.9 percent]. Why wouldn’t his public support him?"
Professor Tamar Hermann, Israel Democracy Institute, and Open University

"Netanyahu wants to turn around to the attorney general and say: ‘Before you decide to prosecute me, pay attention. The people of Israel have re-elected me for a fourth time’ — hopefully, he will be able to say with more seats than ever before — ‘You cannot overturn the results of a democratic election'."
Reuven Hazan, professor of political science , Hebrew University

"The main suspicion is that the prime minister took bribes and acted in a conflict of interest by intervening and acting in regulatory decisions that favor Shaul Elovitch and the Bezeq Group, while at the same time directly and indirectly demanded interference with the content of the Walla site in a way that would benefit him."
"[The prime minister used his office] to promote Shaul Elovitch’s regulatory affairs, including the issue of the Bezeq-Yes merger, and including the coverage of these matters in Walla’s positive coverage. The intervention of the prime minister and his associates in the contents and appointments of employees at the Walla website was intended to promote his personal interests by publishing flattering articles and pictures, and removing critical content about the prime minister and his family."
"The findings also revealed that the Elovitch family influenced Walla’s publications, in exchange for the prime minister’s regulatory decisions in favor of of Shaul Elovitch and the Bezeq Group, and out of a desire to further advance the business interests of the Bezeq Group in general and its controlling shareholder in particular."
Joint statement, Israeli Police and the Israel Securities Authority

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, and his wife Sara in Jerusalem, on May 16, 2018. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Benjamin Netanyahu has fulfilled his obligations as an effectively reliable Prime Minister of Israel for the past three years, all the while under police investigation on multiple allegations of corruption. Some of his former aides have decided to turn state witness for the purpose of proffering evidence against their former boss; three former senior aides who had worked in his office among them with presumably lots to add to the discussion.

When police handed investigation files over to the country's attorney general a recommendation came with the files that the prime minister be indicted. This is a process requiring the police to investigate and recommend to the Attorney General whether to indict, whereupon the most senior prosecutors review evidence and recommendation ensues to determine whether to further the process. A hearing must be held to reach a conclusion prior to the laying of a final criminal charge.

The integrity of senior law enforcement institutions in Israel is in the public spotlight, at least by the Prime Minister and his supporters. The chief prosecutor of Israel and the attorney general rebuked the prime minister for questioning the justice system, pointing out the irresponsibility of undermining public trust in senior public officers' professionalism. On the other hand, a sitting prime minister is being profiled as corrupt in his office, threatened with removal.

In other countries 'indiscretions' viewed as corrupt acts of various degrees receive shrugs, much comment, and on occasion investigations upon which a warning to the malefactor in office is seen to suffice. Canada's prime minister has been investigated on a number of occasions for breaking the law and engaging in corrupt practices, from receiving costly gifts from wealthy patrons he calls "family friends", to making himself available at high entry costs to Chinese entrepreneurs to benefit his Liberal party. He has interfered in vital contracts for military equipment, has been instrumental in falsely charging the second-in-command of the Canadian military with a criminal offence.

In the U.S., former President Bill Clinton's charitable trust has received funding from diverse sources, many of which come with subtly unstated strings attached. When Hillary Clinton was Secretary of State and able to dole out government favours, substantial donations were made to the Clinton Foundation by Saudi Arabia and Qatar among other questionable sources not necessarily otherwise given to philanthropy. Bill Clinton was himself a candidate as president for impeachment for his unrepentant, habitual womanizing.

Prime Minister Netanyahu is assured of loyalty from his wide political base -- typically Israeli Jews of Sephardic origins who tend to be more conservative as well as Jews from the former Soviet Union; little wonder, having come from life among Arab and Muslim (and Communist) countries, who favour national security and the pragmatic hard line politics that living in a rough neighbourhood require. Whereas Jews descended from Eastern Europe are more inclined to be liberal in their outlook and tend to dominate cultural and national life in Israel.

Israeli law provides for an accused and accusers to meet in the presence of police where doubt exists with respect to the credibility of evidence. The purpose is to enable discussion and in the process give law enforcement the opportunity to carefully assess all dimensions of any given evidence in a more rounded context. Prime Minister Netanyahu, in demanding that this normal process be allowed him emphasized the refusal of his request as jarring in democratic Israel.

Irrespective of his complaints with respect to the actions of the police and their prolonged investigation and decision to urge the attorney general to indict him for corruption based on the evidence on hand, Mr. Netanyahu carefully speaks of the critical importance of Israel's independent judiciary and law-enforcement in its democratic setting. While at the same time asserting no branch of government can be immune from criticism as he attacked the competence of police and other law enforcement personnel.

In short, this very public, high-level spat, spitting and snarling in a political-based impasse is also typical of the culture for it seems that Jews and their opinions are seldom aligned, with diverse, strongly-held opinions continually fostering disputes ad infinitum from all aspects of the political spectrum and beyond.

Police chief Roni Alsheich and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pictured at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem, December 3, 2015. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)