Monday, December 10, 2012

My Op-Ed in the Toronto Star "Stephen Harper’s decision on CNOOC finally gets the China connection right"


With greatly enhanced Chinese investment in Canada, one could easily see the pro-China business lobbyists and their think-tank pundits ever more active - and effective - in seeking to further the interests of the Chinese state in Canada. The national security implications of this could go far beyond the concerns that Dick Fadden, the CSIS director, has voiced in recent years about Canadian decision-makers being "under the influence of the Chinese state."

So hundreds of billions of Chinese yuan will not be coming to Canada in years ahead, as some had hoped would be the case. The Chinese government and the Canadian China lobby will not be happy about this. But in Canada's relations with the People's Republic of China, it is clearly better to be respected than loved.

http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorialopinion/article/1300372--stephen-harper-s-decision-on-cnooc-finally-gets-the-china-connection-right

Saturday, December 08, 2012

My Op-Ed "Stephen Harper’s new trade rules safeguard Canada’s interests"

If China was to follow up its Nexen acquisition with other large investments and become a significant player in Canada's economy, the consequences go far beyond simply which nation would benefit economically from Canada's resources.

http://m.theglobeandmail.com/commentary/stephen-harpers-new-trade-rules-are-in-canadas-best-interest/article6136355/?service=mobile

Harper says Canada not for sale, as Conservatives approve CNOOC Nexen buy-out | The Vancouver Observer

"Given the scale of potential Chinese investment in Canada's natural resources, a major question that should be on many Canadians' minds is what percentage of ownership by the Chinese state is acceptable to Canadians in natural resources?"

http://www.vancouverobserver.com/world/harper-says-canada-not-sale-conservatives-approve-cnooc-nexen-buy-out