Statement by Thomas d’Aquino on Canada-China Relations

November 21, 2006

I am deeply concerned about the Harper government’s approach to China and my concerns are shared by many in Canada’s business and academic communities.

China is well on its way to great power status in economic, political, cultural and military terms.  After much coaxing from leading democracies, China is also evolving rapidly as an engaged player among the family of nations.  For three and a half decades, Canada has meticulously worked at deepening political and economic relations with China while encouraging greater freedom for its citizens.  Along the way, Canada-China friendship, trust and mutual respect have deepened and China has looked to Canada’s example in the areas of economic, judicial and institutional reform.

Much of this progress is now threatened by the attitude of a significant number of Canadian parliamentarians, many government members among them, who mistakenly believe that the best way to influence change in China is to take a hard-line approach on human rights.  It began with the naïve and little understood legislative proposal that would have given almost de facto independence status to Taiwan (Taiwan Affairs Act) and has continued with a significant downgrading of diplomatic and economic dialogue on the part of the current government.

The facts and the realities are these:  if we continue down this road, we will seriously damage one of the most important relationships we have; we will render useless our voice and influence in effecting change in China; and we will place huge handicaps on the aspirations of business people and the work force in Canada that see vital opportunities in the Canada-China economic relationship.

The bottom line is this:  without an enlightened and constructive policy and strategy towards China, Canada’s position and influence in China and the world will surely diminish.