Between empires
Not too much should be expected from Stephen Harper’s visit to China. The Middle Kingdom, the only country that has oscillated several times between greatness and degradation — and, with Russia and the United States, the only country that has historically been unconquerable — does what it wishes, ignores the opinions of other countries, and doesn’t give much away.
There is no point to raising civil rights, other than that their relative absence in China diminishes the moral respect China would otherwise receive. About 10 years ago, an associate of mine, in conversation with the Chinese ambassador in London, recited Voltaire’s famous formula that it is better for 10 guilty men to go free than for one innocent one to be condemned. The ambassador stared quizzically and said: “Better for whom?”
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nomdeblog Says:
Iggy supported Premer Wen’s complaint that PMSH was ignoring China and that failure of PMSH policy toward China has hurt us. But like Climategate, Iggy offers no real data to support his claim. Thankfully PMSH ignored Iggy and kept reaffirming his views on human rights in China.
It’s pure hypocrisy that the Liberals talk civil rights when we hand over to the locals the terrorists (detainees?) captured on the battlefield in Afghanistan. Instead of worrying about the safety of our troops Liberals want to impose the Geneva Convention in a war where the enemy uses 7th century tribal methods against our troops.
Compare that to what Conrad says “Even in the 7th century, China exchanged embassies or trade representatives with 300 cities or states, including the Portuguese and Swedes. Kublai Khan was a relatively liberal ruler who tolerated all religious views.”
There’s 2 completely different historical foundations going on here. Yet when PMSH has a civil discussion about known abuses in China, the Liberals say that hurts us. In short the Liberals don’t care about abuse.
In any event, Iggy is getting to be too long in the tooth and his polices resemble something from another era when compared to the young talent the CPC can offer. For example, 41 year old Chris Alexander spent six years in Afghanistan as Canada’s Ambassador there. He then served as the United Nations special representative in Kabul. Prior to Afghanistan, he had already served two tours at the Canadian embassy in Moscow. In the next election Chris Alexander will probably be going head to head with Mark Holland in Ajax and will no doubt soon surface as PMSH’s Foreign Affairs Minister in a majority government against community organizer Justin Trudeau in the Liberal shadow cabinet. The biggest problem the CPC has is an opposition with no talent.
Posted on December 5th, 2009 at 9:59 am
dora Says:
No doubt, Conrad Black has a personal dog in this fight as he has maintained his innocence regarding his case. But while he says in the above piece that we shouldn’t expect much from the Prime Minister’s China visit, indeed the unexpected has occurred.
Reports this morning are showing wide public support and respect from Chinese citizens, known world-wide for their impeccable manners and long held reverence for former ancestors and generation.
Of course, it would have nothing at all to do that the fact that Stephen Harper is an unrelenting human rights advocate and Chinese citizens are coming out in numbers to greet him.
The fact is, both countries’ leadership have agreed to more mutual visits and it’s obviously going to be good for ongoing business and trade relations.
Posted on December 5th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Philanthropist Says:
Prime Minister Harper gains far more respect from the Chinese than the corrupt Liberals who only want to make connections for their own corporations once they leave office, like that crook Chretien.
Posted on December 5th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
Lindsay Says:
The biggest problem the CPC has is an opposition with no talent.
Words so true the opposition borders on the legally stupid. Jack Layton … Afghan detainees blah-blah… AND the refusal of the Canadian government to sign the U.N. Treaty on Aboriginals. The U.N. Treaty that would reduce, remove, claw-out, the existing rights of Canadian aboriginals to less than those of a Tamil caught trying to sneak into this country. Refusal? Jack – Signing would be illegal! But it’s OK with you as long as the UN is happy? Why do you think any aboriginal chief only complains once about not signing the UN Treaty – maybe because he’s told to go read the damn thing!
Where’s the realism of public debate? Certainly not from the whinny check-lists of our politicians and our keep-it-quiet-we-know-best elitist media.
Posted on December 5th, 2009 at 5:01 pm