The John Batchelor Show

VIDEO: China in Canada

May 11, 2015

Wednesday  6 May 2015  / Hour 1, Block B: Charles Burton, professor, Brock University, in re: . . .  hope that Canada will take the lead in monitoring the Sino-British agreement that led to the transfer of Hong Kong to China. China's control over HK sovereignty is supposed to be limited. The gist of my testimony was that Canada must readjust its policy toward China in light of China's crackdown on students, civil protests, freedom of the press, democracy, civil society. Canadian policy has three aspects: prosperous trade; protect our security; project Canadian values in our foreign relations with China.  The last one clearly has failed; we need to be more vocal and engage in constructive action. "Peaceful rise" didn’t work."  Yes, our govt is focussed; head of Canadian secret service notes that there are Canadians who are responding above all to Chinese govt interests. We've had serious problems with cyberespionage. Martin Lee, leading HK democracy leader, plus a student leader, gave testimony:  with great integrity Mr Lee described expectations at the time of transfer: 50 years of no change and that HK people could govern themselves, and move toward "one country two systems" – clearly not working. Our Liberal Party sought to discredit Mr Lee, incorrectly.  China sent an unprecedented letter to interfere in the Canadian process. Son of Pierre Trudeau had a lot of affection for Fidel Castro and Chairman Mao; Canadian firms support the Liberal Party financially and other ways.  About half a million HK Chinese in Canada, and 300K Canadians in HK.  Recent immigrants to China are sympathetic to Beijing.