Canada Closing Embassy to Iran: Tweet from @DFAIT_MAECI

@DFAIT_MAECI: #Canada Closes Embassy in #Iran, Expels Iranian Diplomats from Canada. http://t.co/3p4h79n8

Insight: China ups lobbying game, but faces key tests in U.S., Canada

This report is definitely worth the read.

Insight: China ups lobbying game, but faces key tests in U.S., Canada

RCI // Highlights // Questioning Canada's pick for ambassador to China

This report expresses my views very well:

http://www.rcinet.ca/english/daily/interviews-2012/13-23_2012-08-30-questioning-canada-s-pick-for-ambassador-to-china/#.UD_BkbR2Jwc.twitter

Ottawa taps veteran diplomat for ambassador’s role in China - The Globe and Mail

http://m.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-taps-veteran-diplomat-for-ambassadors-role-in-china/article4509122/?service=mobile

Another article on this theme also quoting me September 26, 2012: http://www.canada.com/Canada+names+Saint+Jacques+ambassador+China/7302459/story.html

My op-ed in the Toronto Star: "CNOOC’s bid for Nexen is a key move on China’s global chess board "

CNOOC’s bid for Nexen is a key move on China’s global chess board - thestar.com

Canadian Mark Bourrie speaks out about split with Xinhua news agency | Canada | News | National Post

http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/08/22/notes-going-to-china-not-public-canadian-speaks-out-about-split-with-xinhua-news-agency/

Serious Problems with Chinese Government Case Against Bo Xilai's Spouse

Please read this list of serious shortcomings in Chinese Government prosecution of Gu Kailai:
"Was Gu Kailai Guilty of Neil Heywood’s Murder?"
Was Gu Kailai Guilty of Neil Heywood’s Murder? - NYTimes.com

Canada-China Economic Complementarities Study Released

Canada-China Economic Complementarities Study Released

http://t.co/Y7QDMItH

My op-ed: The party will write the narrative for Ms. Gu – and for Nexen - The Globe and Mail

The party will write the narrative for Ms. Gu – and for Nexen - The Globe and Mail

"CNOOC’s party committee has a party discipline inspection group whose head, Zhang Jianwei, is also a senior member of the CNOOC board. Mr. Zhang’s job is to make sure that all the leaders of Nexen comply with the secret directives of the party leadership in Beijing. Woe betide those who don’t follow the party’s will for CNOOC. They know that shuanggui awaits the recalcitrant who might want to put the interests of Nexen’s Canadian shareholders first."

PM Visit Announcements on Canada-China Trade Follow-Up?

I am a little concerned that there has been no news on the economic complementarity study that the PM announced in China in February. If my memory serves it was to have come out in May. Not sure what the next steps are for getting the "negotiations completed" Canada-China Foreign Investment Protection Agreement to implementation either.

I was not encouraged by recent Chinese statements that Canadian diary products will not be allowed to have much share of the Chinese market due to "food security" concerns (http://www.bwob.ca/topics/global-issues/canada-and-china-remain-far-apart-on-trade-issues/). Because of 2 successive scandals over poisonous additives to Chinese processed milk products, Chinese consumers would probably have been happy to have a reliable pure Canadian diary option.

Baird Disappointed by Continued UNSC Paralysis / Canada's ambassador expects China to change Syria stance

I think David Mulroney in his CBC interview (http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2012/07/13/pol-house-china-syria-david-mulroney.html) is not being realistic about the prospects of China coming 'round to our perspective on Syria.  In my view they will never support any international action to remove a dictatorship that has lost the confidence of its people.  But I do hope that I am proven wrong about this and that David is proven right.

July 19, 2012 - Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today issued the following statement:

"It is with extreme disappointment and deep regret that the world witnessed the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) fail the people of Syria yet again today.  The Security Council had the opportunity to finally do the right thing to enforce a plan through binding sanctions that would have sent a clear message to Assad and those backing him, but, instead, Russia and China chose the status quo. They also chose to ignore the spiralling violence. They failed to act in the most vulnerable hour for the Syrian people. Canada has continually impressed on Russia and China in Moscow, Beijing and Ottawa that they have a responsibility to bring about a solution to the crisis.  We will continue to work toward a diplomatic end to the violence, for that is the responsible thing to do." (http://www.international.gc.ca/media/aff/news-communiques/2012/07/19c.aspx)

Is a well-connected Chinese youth getting away with murder in Canada?

Very troubling case: after the RCMP made unprecedented transfer of evidence to China for trial of a man accused of murdering his girlfriend in Canada, the case languishes in Beijing amid allegations of political interference with the Chinese court because the accused murder's family has senior connections to China's security sector.

http://www.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=721293&playlistId=1.880096&binId=1.810401



September 27, 2012
Finnally justice was done and the murderer got a life sentence:
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Chinese+court+sentences+life+prison+murder+Canada/7305940/story.html

Very Much Hope These Serious Allegations of Jaffer-PRC Security Agency Connection Are Proven False

"Former Conservative MP Rahim Jaffer sought secret information about Canadian military satellite technology after meeting with state-owned Chinese technology companies in China in 2010, according to a document filed in an Ottawa courthouse Tuesday.  .  .  .  The Globe and Mail has previously reported that Jaffer claimed to have lost that passport when he was asked to return it following his wife's departure from cabinet."

http://www.canada.com/news/Rahim+Jaffer+sought+secret+info+about+Canadian+satellite+technology+court+documents+words/6948597/story.html

Can China still promote a man who campaigned against corruption while family accumulated 100s of millions of dollars?

Can the Communist Party of China still promote a man who campaigned against corruption while his family accumulated hundreds of millions of dollars"

Probably. There's likely too much at stake to alter the long-planned transition of power at this late hour. The party's leaders proved long ago that they put "stability" ahead of all other principles.

Part of the problem is there is likely no one in the leadership group who is any cleaner than Mr. Xi.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/world-view/chinas-corruption-fight-tested-by-senior-leaders-family-wealth/article4379458/

Investigative Report on Colossal Wealth of Family of China's President Designate

"Xi Jinping Millionaire Relations Reveal Fortunes of Elite"

Xi Jinping, the man in line to be China's next president, warned
officials on a 2004 anti-graft conference call: "Rein in your
spouses, children, relatives, friends and staff, and vow not to use
power for personal gain."

As Xi climbed the Communist Party ranks, his extended family
expanded their business interests to include minerals, real estate
and mobile-phone equipment, according to public documents compiled
by Bloomberg.

Those interests include investments in companies with total assets
of $376 million; an 18 percent indirect stake in a rare- earths
company with $1.73 billion in assets; and a $20.2 million holding
in a publicly traded technology company.

http://www.businessweek.com/printer/articles/272062?type=bloomberg

Let Me Try a Prediction About Canadian Politics For a Change

Well so far I am unable to come up with much informed speculation on what will happen at upcoming Chinese Communist Party 18th Congress. I only have wishful thinking on that one.

But I am pretty sure that I won't be wrong again with this Canadian political prediction:
If Trudeau junior becomes leader of the Liberal Party, that Party will go the way of the other rock solid national institutions of my youth --- the Progressive Conservative Party, Eaton's stores and Bell Canada --- in short order.

I should just stick with Chinese political prognoses, I suppose.  

Details of US Gov't Letter of Investigation of Huawei and ZTE Reported

In a May 23 meeting, Huawei officials told the lawmakers that the company maintains "a Party Committee," according to the letter. The letter asked about "the roles, responsibilities and authorities" of the Party Committee.

The lawmakers asked both companies if they have "ever been ordered by the Chinese government to perform a task or seek information on behalf of the government""

They also asked the companies if any employees "ever attempted to obtain private information from an individual, company or government" through their company's network or equipment.

http://www.thestar.com/business/article/1210830--u-s-expands-probe-into-chinese-phone-companies 

More US Allegations of Huawei and ZTE's Connections to the Government of China

Chinese companies apparently have a covert capability to remotely access communications technology sold to the United States and other Western countries and could "disable a country's telecommunications infrastructure before a military engagement," according to former and current intelligence sources.

Read more: http://g2bulletin.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=4561#ixzz1xOKENE67 

Rather intriguing but unverified plan for Chinese democratic reform starting in Guangdong (Chinese text)

中国将启动政治改革，试点在广东(转发) - xiaoying的日志 - 网易博客

Good News! 18th Party Congress Delayed

China delaying the 18th Party Congress offers hope there will be significant political reform measures announced when it does finally meet.

Photo with H.H, the Dalai Lama

Dalai Lama mocks China’s interest in naming his successor

http://m.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/dalai-lama-mocks-chinas-interest-in-naming-his-successor/article2416580/?service=mobile

On top of everything else, His Holiness is one the great humourists of our times!!

NYT: Bo Xilai Said to Have Wire Tapped Hu Jintao's Telephone!

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2012/04/26/world/asia/bo-xilai-said-to-have-spied-on-top-china-officials.xml

My rather optimistic op-ed "Sunk by corruption, even in China" - The Globe and Mail

"Party corruption runs deep; Some suggest scandals will fade and pose no threat to the authoritarian rule of China's Communists. They are wrong."
Sunk by corruption, even in China - The Globe and Mail

There is a Chinese language TV interview with me on the same topic from OMNI TV Mandarin News of April 19 (starts at about 7:50): http://bcove.me/ot94vp3h

《求是》发表温家宝重要文章:让权力在阳光下运行

《求是》发表温家宝重要文章:让权力在阳光下运行

Chinese language report speculating on what Bo Xilai's spouse was really doing

谷开来涉嫌四宗命案 涉重庆受贿10亿 转出海外80亿 - wenxuecity.com

Hard to know how factual this is, but it seems plausible.

Xinhua News Agency reports China suspends Bo from elite ranks, wife suspected of murder | Reuters

China suspends Bo from elite ranks, wife suspected of murder | Reuters

据新华社4月10日报道，据调查，薄谷开来（薄熙来同志妻子）及其子同尼尔•伍德过去关系良好，后因经济利益问题产生矛盾并不断激化。

 

经复查，现有证据证明尼尔•伍德死于他杀，薄谷开来和张晓军（薄家勤务人员）有重大作案嫌疑。薄谷开来、张晓军涉嫌故意杀人犯罪，已经移送司法机关。

 

Bo Xilai 'expelled from China's Communist Party' - Telegraph

Bo Xilai 'expelled from China's Communist Party' - Telegraph

Expulsion from the Party means no prospect of return to public life.  Much more serious than simply being removed from posts.  Bo Xilai's expulsion from Chinese Communist Party means his career is definitely and absolutely over.  Never coming back.

Rights And Democracy: Tories Killing Mulroney-Era Agency

Rights And Democracy: Tories Killing Mulroney-Era Agency

Press release from Minister Baird: http://www.international.gc.ca/media/aff/news-communiques/2012/04/3a.aspx?view=d

Article in National Post: http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/04/03/tories-shutter-troubled-rights-and-democracy-agency/?__lsa=b9697a1f

3 Reasons Why the Next Canadian Ambassador to China Should Be a Political Appointment

1. Sending a strong politically connected ambassador sends a signal to Chinese that we are serious about upgrading the China relationship in Canada’s international priorities.  It is a lot better than sending a bland DFAIT Mandarin.  We need someone senior in this post.

2.  This sort of person will not have one eye on going into business with the Chinese and getting rich after ambassadorship ends.  Better not to have future personal Chinese plans overshadowing his pursuit of Canadian interests while still a humble incomed civil servant.

3. This sort of person is more likely to press on with follow through on the FIPA, etc.

China urged to probe suspicious death of Briton who had links to purged Communist Party anti-corruption crusader | Mail Online

This is worth the read:

China urged to probe suspicious death of Briton who had links to purged Communist Party anti-corruption crusader | Mail Online

Australia has blocked Huawei Technologies of China from bidding on contracts in the $38 billion Australian National Broadband Network

@AsiaPacificFdn: Australia Bars Huawei From Broadband Project via @NYTimes http://ow.ly/9SW9u

Jian Ghomeshi's interview with Ai Weiwei on CBC radio program "Q"

I recommend taking out 26 minutes to listen to Jian Ghomeshi's interview with Ai Weiwei on CBC radio program "Q"

Audio

Interesting report on how Iran busts sanctions through Hong Kong

Uncertain future in HK for Iranian shipping line | Iran Shell Game | Latest Hong Kong, China & World News | SCMP.com

Politburo Claims Control Over Reincarnation in Tibet

@markmackinnon: Global Times-ism of day: "The central government has the complete power to stop the reincarnation of any living Buddha" http://www.globaltimes.cn/NEWS/tabid/99/ID/700829/Dalais-incarnation-critical-for-Tibets-future.aspx

Most spoken Languages of the World - Nations Online Project

Most spoken Languages of the World - Nations Online Project

温家宝总理答中外记者问--中国共产党新闻-人民网

温家宝总理答中外记者问--中国共产党新闻-人民网

DPRK Press Release About Talks with USA

@CanKorTweets: Results of DPRK-USA Talks as Announced by the DPRK Foreign Ministry http://t.co/0bKHoYXV

Vancouver Sun Report on Allegatons of Chinese Cyber-Espionage: "China has not been behaving like a friend"

"An electronic stealth operation allegedly based in China hacks into Nortel Networks Inc., Canada's high-flying telecom superstar, loots its secrets for a decade and, says one cyber-security expert, contributes to the company's fatal implosion.

Queen's University professor David Skillicorn points out that after the hackers penetrated Nortel around 2000, they began stealing technical papers, research and development reports, and strategic business plans.

After that, Nortel couldn't compete for contracts "because the hackers had their technical knowledge, their financials, their bids, before they submitted them," Skillicorn told Postmedia News. "How can you compete in an environment like that? These hackers weren't into Nortel just out of curiosity. They were using the stuff they got.""

=====

"Last year, as Finance Minister Jim Flaherty prepared for a G20 economic summit in Paris, hackers penetrated Canada's Treasury Board and department of finance computer networks. They also infiltrated the House of Commons network. Later analysis identified a particular interest in MPs with large numbers of ethnic Chinese in their constituencies.

Canada's Communications Security Establishment tracked this hacking operation to the Chinese embassy in Ottawa and from there to computer servers in Beijing, reported CTV News."

National Post Report Alleges Suspicions on Huawei: "Nortel hacked to bits"

"Mr. Shields was convinced there were criminals working on behalf of China's Huawei Technologies Co. accessing the CEO's files, but his hunch hadn't been enough for his immediate bosses to grant him direct access to the top man's PC.

"I went on my own then and pulled the Web logs from Mike Z. since I had access to those kinds of logs back then," the 53-year-old Nortel veteran recalls. It was there he finally found the digital smoking gun he had spent years trying to find."


China's embassy in Washington issued a statement to the WSJ specifically denying any involvement in the Nortel hacking, saying "cyber attacks were transnational and anonymous" and shouldn't be assumed to originate in China "without thorough investigation and hard evidence."

Nortel hacked to bits

Why Do I Have to Keep Defending the Office of Religious Freedom?

The Canadian International Council sent me another mass mailing to promote their new debate series entitled: "The New Missionaries: Should Canada Promote Religious Freedom Abroad?" (http://www.opencanada.org/the_new_missionaries/).  It certainly gets off on the wrong foot with the reference to "new missionaries."  The Government of Canada clearly has no intention to proselytize religion domestically or internationally.  So why is the CIC being so wrong-headed in framing the debate in this way?

I think the bottom line is that for the majority of the people of the world who are people of faith the importance of the freedom to practice their faith openly and without fear of harassment is self-evident.  This is because for people of faith there is nothing more important than their faith.  They are prepared to suffer imprisonment, deprivation, death rather than give up the precious belief that defines their lives, identities and souls.  Nothing is more painful to them than the desecration of their holy places and the violation of their religious symbols and sacred objects.

These facts are evidently troubling to some who lack faith in their lives.  They therefore deride the noble project of the Government of Canada to make promotion of  religious freedom a central priority in Canadian foreign policy  They attempt to reduce it to banal political motives.

They are wrong about this.

Speculation on Hardliner Nationalist Faction Gaining Strength in China

Hard to know how reliable this report is, but it is thought-provoking:
"Intel Fight Over China Succession"
 http://freebeacon.com/intel-fight-over-china-succession/

Thoughts on State Capitalism and Cyber-Espionage

CTV National News ran an item last night alleging years-long Chinese state involvement in hacking into the Nortel comnpany's computers and removing information about new technologies and about confidential commercial negotiations (Hackers had 'widespread access' to Nortel's network http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories/20120214/hackers-widespread-access-nortel-networks-report-120214 via @CTVNews) It is logical that Chinese large state-owned enterprises, whose heads are appointed by the Organization Department of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, should have full access to all of the resources of the Chinese state.  This would include the use of intelligence agencies to get them information on rival proprietary technologies and information on their competitors' commercial negotiations.

Canadian companies such as RIM on the other hand have no reciprocal access to the resources of the Canadian Government's Communications Security Establishment of Canada, because RIM is a private company whose focus is profit for its shareholders.  RIM does not have a mandate to further the interests of the Canadian state per se.

There is therefore a qualitative difference between Chinese state owned firms' investment in Canada and investments by purely commercial entities based in the USA and elsewhere,  State-owned firms ultimately put the interests of the State that they are an arm of over all else.

Legal, political hurdles ahead for China investment deal | Embassy - Canada's Foreign Policy Newspaper

http://embassymag.ca/page/view/chinainvestment-02-15-2012

The House interview with Stephen Harper about China Trip - Politics - CBC News

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2012/02/10/pol-cbc-interview-stephen-harper.html

China Refuses to Allow PM Visit TV Transmission from Chongqing

@cburton001: China blocks transmission of Canadian television footage of Harper - Winnipeg Free Press http://bit.ly/yilSWa

PM's Comments on Human Rights in Guangzhou Reported by the Toronto Star

""Taking things to the next level" with China means recognizing "we should engage more deeply" not just on trade, he said, but on "fundamental national values."

Canadians, he said, expect their prime minister to have a "good and frank dialogue on fundamental principles such as freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and freedom of belief and worship."

"Canadians also demand that their government be a responsible global citizen in dealing with the peace and security challenges that confront the world, and wherever we can, to urge other governments, including global actors like China, to do the same."

The fact Harper made the remarks in public meant they would register clearly with China's leaders—after Harper said he also raised them in private meetings this week.

But there is little likelihood the broader Chinese population would hear them through state-controlled media."

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1129120--harper-blasts-foreign-money-oilands-debate-while-welcoming-china

Joint List of Outcomes of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Visit to China

Joint List of Outcomes of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Visit to China

February 9, 2012
Beijing, China

At the invitation of Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper paid an official visit to China from February 7 to 11. During the visit, President Hu Jintao, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Wu Bangguo and Premier Wen Jiabao held meetings with Prime Minister Harper. Vice Premier Li Keqiang met Prime Minister Harper and both attended and addressed the 5^th Canada-China Business Forum.

The leaders reaffirmed the guiding principles outlined in the Canada-China Joint Statement of 2009 and their commitment to strengthen the Canada-China strategic partnership. Both sides agreed to maintain frequent high-level exchanges, reinforce political trust, expand practical cooperation, increase people-to-people exchanges, and strengthen consultation and cooperation on international and regional issues in the spirit of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit. The leaders also agreed to bring the economic partnership to the next level by improving the bilateral investment regime. At the same time, the two sides agreed to deepen economic and trade cooperation, and step up cooperation in the areas of energy and other natural resources including oil and gas, nuclear energy, renewable energy, forest products and minerals. These developments will be strengthened by expanded cooperation in the fields of agriculture, high technology, clean technology, environmental protection, life-sciences, bio-pharmacy, civil aviation and financial services, and among small and medium-sized enterprises, so as to cultivate new growth points of mutually-beneficial cooperation. Both sides agreed to elevate education as a new strategic priority of the bilateral relationship. Both sides also agreed to increase dialogue and exchanges on human rights, on the basis of equality and mutual respect, to promote and protect human rights consistent with the Charter of the United Nations and international human rights instruments.

Having reached consensus, the two sides announced a series of important developments and signed relevant agreements. These include the following:

1. The two sides announced the conclusion of the substantive negotiations on the bilateral Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement. Both sides signed a declaration of intent and will work to finalise the text within their respective domestic processes.
2. The leaders agreed that the joint study being done in the Canada-China Economic Partnership Working Group on areas where the two economies are complementary will be completed by May 2012, after which Canada and China will proceed to exploratory discussions on deepening trade and economic relations.
3. With a view to strengthening bilateral cooperation in uranium trade and development, both sides held fruitful discussions and reached agreement in principle on a legal instrument to further implement the bilateral Nuclear Cooperation Agreement, which will facilitate exports of Canadian uranium to China. Both sides will work to finalise the text within their respective domestic processes.
4. The two sides renewed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Concerning Cooperation in the Field of Energy between Natural Resources Canada and the National Energy Administration of China. 
5. The two sides announced their intent to conclude the substantive negotiations for an updated Canada-China Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation. Both sides will work together to finalise the text within their respective domestic processes.
6. The two sides announced the conclusion of substantive negotiations on the amendment to the Canada-China Air Transport Agreement. Both sides will work together to finalise the text within their respective domestic processes.
7. The two sides signed the Protocol between the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China and on Quarantine and Health Requirements for Industrial Beef Tallow to be exported from Canada to China.
8. The two sides signed a Cooperative Arrangement on Inspection and Quarantine Access Issues between the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China.
9. The two sides signed an MOU between the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China on a Cooperative Plan for Leptosphaeria Maculans Risk Mitigation (Joint Canola Research).
10. The two sides agreed to sign an MOU between the Department of Fisheries and Oceans of Canada  and the Ministry of Agriculture of China on Fisheries Cooperation at an early date.
11. The two sides signed the statement of intent for cooperation in the area of science, technology and innovation, and announced the third batch of Canada-China science and technology cooperation projects.
12. The two sides signed the MOU on Cooperation between the Natural Resources Canada and the Chinese Academy of Sciences in the Sustainable Development of Natural Resources.
13. The two sides reaffirmed their intention to strengthen cooperation in combatting transnational crime and repatriating fugitives in accordance with their respective laws, and to enhance judicial and law enforcement cooperation, and agreed to launch negotiations on an agreement on the sharing of the proceeds of crime.
14. The two sides renewed the MOU between the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada and the Education Ministry of China on the Canada-China Scholars' Exchange Program, and agreed to explore additional means to expand two-way academic exchange, aspiring to reach the goal of 100,000 students studying in each other's countries within five years. The two sides recognise that there is a particular need to encourage more Canadian students to study in China.
15. The two sides highlighted the complementary nature of their respective civil aviation industries and the important role they play in contributing to growth and prosperity in both Canada and China, and undertook to strengthen collaboration in this area.
16. The two sides plan on holding a series of cultural activities in each other's countries in 2013 and 2014.
17. Following agreement by Canada and China, the Chinese Association of Zoological Gardens will sign an agreement with the Toronto and Calgary zoos to provide a pair of giant pandas for 10 years of collaborative research on conservation.
18. The two sides signed the MOU between the Parks Canada Agency and the State Forestry Administration of China for cooperation on matters related to protected areas.
19. Both sides applauded the upgrading of Canada's Consulate in Chongqing to Consulate-General.
20. The Chinese side welcomed the availability of multiple entry Canadian visas for Chinese citizens valid for a period of up to 10 years. The relevant authorities will undertake bilateral consultations on further simplifying visa procedures.
21. The two sides reaffirmed that Canada and China have important shared interests in promoting peace, security and sustainable development regionally and globally, and agreed to enhance coordination and cooperation in the UN, G20, APEC and other multilateral institutions as well as on major international and regional issues. The two sides agreed that Canada and China are ready to work constructively with other countries in the region to enhance peace, security and stability in Asia-Pacific.
22. During the visit, more than 20 commercial agreements were signed between enterprises of the two countries.

---

The Prime Minister's Office - Communications

My Interview with Radio China International

China Radio International ran an edited interview with me on February 10: http://media.iphone.cri.cn/features/pik/2012/02/0210pik.mp3 (my part starts about 15:20 in).  My references to Huseyin Celil, China's commitments re: yuan exchange rate at G-20, etc., etc. were removed.  Some of the editing even took phrases out of single sentences.

My Thoughts on Canada's FIPA Negotiations with China

I think it would be a mistake for Canada to get locked in to a weak FIPA with China that does not genuinely ensure fair treatment for all Canadian investment in China.

What Canadian investors want to see before they can feel confident in dealings with China is a FIPA that is based in effective measures to guarantee that Chinese contractual obligations will be enforced through a fair legal process. A FIPA whose provisions are more rhetorical than concrete and subject to arbitrary interpretation by local authorities and weakened by carve outs and escape clauses gets us no where.

But it is hard for China's Central government to undertake an international treaty obligation with Canada that gives Canadian investment preferential treatment over that of other nations who wish to do business in China. Moreover China's Central government would have difficulty implementing an effective Canadian FIPA at the local levels.

In the final analysis the real answer ultimately lies in strong and effective and comprehensive domestic legislation in China to tame China's "wild west" business culture and make it possible for all contractual disputes to be subject to mediation by due process of law that would treat all parties in a just and fair manner.

FIPAs are really just a stop gap that can never substitute for that.

My Op-Ed in Sunday Toronto Star: Harper in China: Juggling oil sales and core principles - thestar.com

Harper in China: Juggling oil sales and core principles - thestar.com

Prime Minister Harper's Statement on Canada-China Relations to National Post Today

We've always been very clear that when it comes to all countries, and particularly dealing with an emerging superpower like China that a relationship be balanced across the range of issues. There are not just economic and trade issues when it comes to the Chinese relationship. There are also security issues, and there are also human rights and democratic issues. And we've always been clear that we will speak our mind on these things, we will be very frank with the Chinese leadership about our concerns. And that's what we've always done. And I think as you will recall, when we came to office, the argument of many, some of our opponents and many outside that, was that you simply could not raise or keep these issues on the agenda and pursue a good economic relationship. I think that's proven to be false. As you see, if anything our trade and investment has increased more quickly under this government and we have continued to express our concerns, and will continue to do so. I think the Chinese, at first, were not used to that approach from Canada. They expected that Canada would not vocalize any issues that were the least bit troubling to them. That was the approach they were used to from the government. I think now they understand that this is a government that has somewhat of a different agenda, that we have a more balanced approach across a range of issues, that we are clearer and more outspoken on foreign policy than our predecessors. But at the same time we are also committed to mutually beneficial economic relations. And that's what we are going to pursue.

http://www.nationalpost.com/m/news/blog.html?b=news.nationalpost.com/2012/02/03/transcript-of-the-national-postpostmedias-exclusive-interview-with-stephen-harper

Speech by John Baird Monday Cites Canada's Concerns About Religious Suppression in China

Foreign Minister John Baird renewed his criticism of China's crackdown on religious freedom in a speech Monday in London.

"In China, we see Roman Catholic priests, Christian clergy and their laity, worshipping outside of state-sanctioned boundaries, who are continually subject to raids, arrests, and detention," Baird said in a prepared text.

"We see Falun Gong practitioners, Tibetan Buddhists, and Uyghur Muslims face harassment, and physical intimidation. These abhorrent acts fly in the face of our core principals, our core values."

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/business/breakingnews/china-to-push-win-win-energy-pact-with-canada-on-harper-visit-envoy-says-137910258.html

Happy Dragon Year, Lovely Little Canadian Girls!

Last night I was stage manager for the Niagara Chinese New Year Gala.  First item was singing of the National Anthem by "the children of the Families of Children from China of Niagara" (one of the 5 co-sponsors of the event).  The afternoon before the show I arranged a little over a dozen little girls in a semi-circle around 3 microphones on the stage of the Merriton Community Centre and rehearsed them in singing "Oh Canada" all standing at attention heads up, shoulders back looking straight ahead at the audience of 450.  All of my singers were girls all adopted from China as infants, youngest now 4 and eldest 9, all dressed in silky qipao looking both insufferably cute and utterly lovely.  We went through the anthem 4 times until I got them doing it strongly, committed  and without hesitation.

That evening after the Chinese supper was done, the lights dimmed in the hall and the line of girls walked out to the middle of the stage.  Cue the music.  And they sang out in pure and clear voices radiating with the innocence of Canadian children:
With glowing hearts we see thee rise
The truth north strong and free!
From far and wide, Oh Canada
We stand on guard for thee!
God keep our land glorious and free!
Oh Canada!
We stand on guard for thee.




My eyes watered a little.
When I am grown old, I will happily leave my Canada in their tender care.



Then the cymbals crashed and the drum boomed and the Lion Dance started our Chinese show off with flurry of joyful noise.

Charlie Rose Interview with Gary Locke. U.S. Ambassador to China

Charlie Rose - Gary Locke

I recommend this interview very highly.

A passport with no strings attached

A passport with no strings attached

Andrew Coyne on why dual citizenship is unworkable for Canadians

Stephen Harper to visit China next month

Stephen Harper to visit China next month

Suu Kyi OptimistIc about Burma's Political Future

@cburton001: BBC News - Suu Kyi: Burma democracy in my lifetime http://bbc.in/zU1Gbt

End Zimbabwe Anglican Church Persecution

@cburton001: Anglican Communion News Service: Southern Africa Primate tells President Mugabe: "Stop police persecuting the church". http://bit.ly/xbiSGG

My Op-Ed in Ottawa Citizen, Vancouver Sun and other papers "A study in presidential contrasts"

Vaclav Havel and Kim Jong-il, both of whom died last weekend, personified an extreme contrast in leadership styles. Each man oversaw a nation's response to the dashing of the hope for human dignity and justice that the Marxist-Leninist paradigm once offered. But the ways each went about it could not have been more different.


A study in presidential contrasts

Chinese President Heading to Pyongyang for Funeral

@adriennemong: S Korean media reporting no foreign delegates attending Kim Jong-il's funeral BUT Chinese President Hu Jintao will be going.

An ex-ambassador in Beijing: Master of ping-ping diplomacy | The Economist

An ex-ambassador in Beijing: Master of ping-ping diplomacy | The Economist

"We have never seen in world history, with Nazi Germany perhaps to one side, a global economic power that has stood so far apart from the international norms of social and political organisation, so it's something different. It really, really is different," Mr Raby said.

CBC.ca News - Chinese cyberspies stealing key data, U.S. analysts say

http://www.cbc.ca/m/rich/technology/ story/2011/12/12/china-hackers-us.html

Canada Marks Human Rights Day

Canada Marks Human Rights Day

(No. 365 - December 9, 2011 - 11:30 a.m. ET) Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today issued the following statement on the occasion of Human Rights Day:

“2011 was a landmark year for human rights, we saw hundreds of thousands of people step forward in the face of violent repression to claim their rights.

“Unfortunately, we live in a world where basic human rights are not always upheld. Innocent people are continually persecuted for their sexual orientation, their political affiliation and their religious beliefs. Human rights defenders are punished and tortured for working to create a world where the rights of all people, including women and girls, are protected and enjoyed.

“We are too often witness to violations of the right to freedom of religion. The history of humanity has proven that religious freedom and democratic freedom are inseparable. One of Canada’s key priorities, therefore, is to establish an Office of Religious Freedom. We announced our intention to do so in the Speech from the Throne on June 3, 2011, and I repeated that commitment at the United Nations General Assembly on September 26, 2011.

“Canada will continue to work tirelessly to promote human rights around the world. On December 10 we both mark this important day and recommit ourselves to working toward freedom, democracy and human rights for all people.”

Baird to review Rights and Democracy mandate | Canada | News | London Free Press

Baird to review Rights and Democracy mandate | Canada | News | London Free Press

The feds want to revisit the role of the troubled Rights and Democracy agency and boost its democracy-building efforts overseas, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said Thursday.

Huawei: Will China conquer the world? - The Globe and Mail

This report is very much worth the read:

Huawei: Will China conquer the world? - The Globe and Mail

Unverifed Claims of Xi Jinping's Canadian Connections (Chinese text)

据国内媒体报道：习近平的姐姐是加拿大人,弟弟是澳 大利亚人，而女儿即将成为美国人。 习近平前妻柯玲玲，是中国外 交官柯华小女儿，结婚三年后离婚，两人没有孩子。柯玲玲现居于英 国。妻子彭丽媛是着名军旅女高音歌唱家，现任解放军总政治部歌舞 团团长。1986年底经赖昌星朋友介绍与习近平相识，1987年 9月1日两人在厦门结婚。女儿习明泽，生于1992年，曾经在杭 州外国语学校读书，2008年汶川大地震时以志愿者的身份前往四 川绵竹的汉旺东汽小学，参与抢救伤者、心理辅导的工作。同年保送 浙江大学，2009年7月，习明泽进入浙江大学外国语学院，20 10年5月前往美国哈佛大学读本科。姐姐齐桥桥（习桥桥）为北京 中民信房地产开发有限公司董事长，姐夫邓家贵为远为房地产开发有 限公司法人代表。他们目前已获加拿大籍。


这份习近平家人的路线图并不全面，还有更多亲戚朋友 生活在美国、加拿大与澳大利亚，但仅仅从这个可以看出，他的很多 近亲与家人都生活在海外，据中办一位老同志透露，这和习近平无关 ，他们兄弟姐妹平时来往不多，他们也从来没有沾习近平的光，都是 靠自己的实力与人脉。他们在国内有这么好的条件，为什么都纷纷出国？而且有些已经拿了国外护照？


这位老同志透露了一段秘密，原来这事与习近平的父亲习 仲勋有关，习仲勋在毛时代被折磨得神经失常是假，其实他一直很清 醒，装疯卖傻只是为了保护自己的家人不受株连。习仲勋后来被平反 后，被委以重任，而他主管广东，和广东华人华侨接触比较多，从他 们那里才真正了解到西方的真实生活，尤其是政治状态与政治制度， 这是习仲勋政治思想转变的关键。从那时起他就要求子女们有机会的 时候都“远走高飞”，他说，报效祖国也可以到国外去，但留在国内 ，说不定就会某一天受到政治迫害，更不用说报效祖国了。但他要求 子女中留一个搞政治的，而且希望是那个最淳朴没有心机的习近平， 他说，在中国这种政治下，别以为有心机就能够成功，张春桥、江青 有心机吧，灭亡得更快。习仲勋自己一直对当局与毛泽东直言不讳， 在政治上从来不参与迫害人，表现得毫无心机，虽然受到了迫害，但 属于最终笑到最后的人。


习仲勋要求子女远离中国，符合他的思想。子女在他的影 响下，一有机会就出国了，唯独习近平留在了国内，但可能是受父亲 影响，习近平也把独生女儿送到哈佛大学读书。据哈佛大学一位叫david的老师向博讯记者透露，习近平的女儿有中国大陆派来的保 镖24小时保护，美国联邦调查局最近也加派人手暗中保护她。一般 来说在校学生无法申请绿卡，但习近平女儿已经有美国的长期驻留签 证，而且随时可以申请加入美国国籍。习近平女儿的成绩不错，空闲 时也上网阅读中文网页，业余爱好是时装与阅读。

Obama puts China on notice with more muscular Asia policy

Obama said that the U.S. wanted a world "where every nation plays by the rules, where workers' rights are respected, and our businesses can compete on a level playing field; where the intellectual property and new technologies that fuel innovation are protected; and where currencies are market driven so no nation has an unfair advantage."

"Every nation will chart its own course," Obama said. "Yet it is also true that certain rights are universal; among them, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion, and the freedom of citizens to choose their own leaders."


http://www.thestar.com/mobile/news/world/article/1088387--obama-puts-china-on-notice-with-more-muscular-asia-policy?bn=1

BBC News - US body to probe China telecom firms on security threat

"The US House intelligence committee said the investigation would look into whether the expansion of these firms in the US posed a security threat.
The committee has named Huawei and ZTE as two of the companies that it is probing."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/mobile/business-15786743

CTV News - Tory foreign policy review looks east to China

CTV News - Tory foreign policy review looks east to China

The document points out the obvious need to bolster trade with Asia, and China in particular, sources say. China's fast growing economy has an insatiable need for natural resources to power growth. But that has raised red flags because Chinese investors are state-owned entities, not private companies. Foreign Affairs experts are working to draft a definitive document on the implications of doing business with state-owned enterprises from China, sources say.

Obama to China: Behave like a 'grown up' economy - Business - Mail & Guardian Online

"China shot back that it refused to abide by international economic rules that it had no part in writing.

"First we have to know whose rules we are talking about," Pang Sen, a deputy director-general at China's Foreign Ministry said.

"If the rules are made collectively through agreement and China is a part of it, then China will abide by them. If rules are decided by one or even several countries, China does not have the obligation to abide by that."
http://mg.co.za/article/2011-11-14-obama-to-china-behave-like-a-grown-up-economy/

TVO The Agenda: "China: Quest for Energy" Panel Streaming Video

China's state corporations' investments in the Canadian energy sector: Sating an Energy-Hungry World | The Agenda

Sating an Energy-Hungry World | The Agenda

I will be on Steve Paikin tonight discussing China's state corporations' investments in the Canadian energy sector:

China’s elite have new international outlook

http://m.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/7fcc4bfc-06d2-11e1-b9cc-00144feabdc0.html

CBC.ca News - Cyberattacks on U.S. military firms traced to China

http://www.cbc.ca/m/rich/technology/story/2011/11/01/technology-cyberattacks-us-china.html

Holocaust saviour: How thousands of Jews were saved from death camps by a Chinese diplomat

Feng Shan Ho is one of the great unsung heroes of the 20th century.

Holocaust saviour: How thousands of Jews were saved from death camps by a Chinese diplomat | News | National Post

No evidence Dechert compromised national security - CTV News

"CTV News has learned the RCMP and Canadian Security Intelligence Service have found no evidence Dechert compromised national security as a result of his relationship with Shi Rong, a reporter with the Xinhua News Agency in Toronto.

Senior CSIS and RCMP officers confirmed to CTV that the Chinese news agency functions as an intelligence arm of China."


Read more: http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Canada/20110918/bob-dechert-xinhua-reporter-110918/#ixzz1aWOFgYY2

U.S. Justice Department probing Chinese accounting - Yahoo! News

"Shares of some Chinese companies listed in the United States fell on Thursday after Khuzami's statements became public.

Among them, Focus Media dived 18 percent, Sohu.com Inc closed 4.7 percent lower, Baidu Inc fell 9.2 percent, China Sky One Medical Inc declined 3.8 percent and Sina Corp ended down 9.7 percent.

The SEC has struggled to gain access to documents it needs in the investigation because strict Chinese laws have made auditors reluctant to turn them over."

Print Story: Exclusive: Justice Department probing Chinese accounting - Yahoo! News

Taiwan professor accused of spying for China - Yahoo! News

"Chinese officials offered him lucrative fortunetelling contracts in exchange for spying on the Taiwan activities of selected Chinese. None of the alleged targets were named."

Taiwan professor accused of spying for China - Yahoo! News

U.S. ambassador to Beijing admired, reviled - Post Bulletin

U.S. ambassador to Beijing admired, reviled

"This is a county where invective still rules. In the absence of a civil society, there still is a strong tradition of not so much attacking the logical flaws of your opponent but attacking his personality or his very person."

U.S. ambassador to Beijing admired, reviled - Post Bulletin

Tallying the Toll of U.S.-China Trade - WSJ.com

Fascinating study: "Many Americans believe low-priced Chinese imports kill U.S. factory jobs. Most economists say the benefits of the trade far outweigh its costs. But new research suggests the damage to the U.S. has been deeper than these economists have supposed."

Tallying the Toll of U.S.-China Trade - WSJ.com

Book Launch of “The China Challenge: Sino-Canadian Relations in the 21st Century” | Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada

Book Launch of “The China Challenge: Sino-Canadian Relations in the 21st Century”

Date:

Thursday, October 20, 2011

APF Canada will host the Vancouver book launch of “The China Challenge: Sino-Canadian Relations in the 21^st Century” on October 20, 2011. The book is edited by Huhua Cao and Senator Vivienne Poy. The book also launches on October 13 at the University of Ottawa; on October 18 at York University; and on October 19 at the University of Toronto.

Book Launch of “The China Challenge: Sino-Canadian Relations in the 21st Century” | Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada

Statement of His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, on the Issue of His Reincarnation | The Office of His Holiness The Dalai Lama

http://dalailama.com/messages/tibet/reincarnation-statement

Book Launch "The China Challenge" Oct 18 at U of T

FlyerOct18-2011

No evidence Dechert compromised national security - CTV News

"Senior CSIS and RCMP officers confirmed to CTV that the Chinese news agency functions as an intelligence arm of China.

Officials say Rong was on their radar, but the Chinese news agency is involved in a different type of espionage than spying on political figures."

"One senior security officer told CTV News that Dechert displayed a 'colossal lack of judgment. He was incredibly stupid to get involved with her.'"

No evidence Dechert compromised national security - CTV News

Are Dechert emails evidence of Chinese espionage?

http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories/20110916/dechert-emails-espionage-china-potential-risks-110917/#.TnSwMViodno.email

Why aren’t Liberals calling for Tory MP’s head over amorous emails? - The Globe and Mail

Interesting report by Jane Taber:

Why aren’t Liberals calling for Tory MP’s head over amorous emails? - The Globe and Mail

CBC.ca | The Current | "China Spies" (including interview with me)

China Spies

"The buzz among the security-savy is that China's state News Agency, Xinhua is routinely used to gather intelligence and that China itself is ravenous for global intelligence on the political, military and industrial front. That is why so many questions linger in the exchange of emails and apparent friendship between MP Bob Dechert, a parliamentary secretary in the foreign affairs dept and a woman posted here in Canada by Xinhua. Today we ask about the vulnerability of our officials and the history of female spies: Infiltration through Flirtation."

http://www.cbc.ca/thecurrent/episode/2011/09/14/china-spies/

-- Shared with Google Share Button

Bill Schiller: Chinese security spies often placed in newsrooms around the world blog

"Typically, the aspiring correspondents attended the University of International Relations in Beijing or another similar university in Nanjing, "where they learned to master a foreign language and how to do intelligence work," the journalist said.

They would then work abroad for a set number of years, "and then disappear," he said. "You wouldn't see them again."

How many agents the State Security Ministry actually appoints depends on the rank and importance of the media outlet. There are several major media outlets that maintain correspondents abroad.

"With a powerful, high ranking media outlet, the Ministry of State Security might say, 'You have 20 positions? Maybe we can send five.' ""

http://www.thestar.com/mobile/news/world/article/1053288--chinese-security-spies-often-placed-in-newsrooms-around-the-world

-- Shared with Google Share Button

Ottawa Citizen urges Bob Dechert to resign as Parliamentary Secretary

Ottawa Citizen editorial urges Bob Dechert to resign as Parliamentary Secretary:

http://bit.ly/qraG7j

Memo to Bob Dechert

This is a very insightful Op-Ed by Michael Cole on how Chinese espionage in Canada works:

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/mobile/iphone/story.html?id=5390768

Tory MP apologizes for 'flirtatious' e-mails to Chinese reporter - The Globe and Mail

@acoyne: Of all the people he could have a year-long "flirtation" with, he picks a bureau chief for the Chinese state news agency? #shimail

From The Globe and Mail:

Tory MP apologizes for 'flirtatious' e-mails to Chinese reporter

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/tory-mp-apologizes-for-flirtatious-e-mails-to-chinese-reporter/article2160043/

Via The Globe and Mail news app for BlackBerry

Feature on Allen Chan in National Post this a.m. quite revealing on PRC connection

National Post this morning has a feature on the founder of Sino-Forest, Allen Chan:

"His deep-rooted China connections have been vital to his forestry businesses on the mainland. A member of a top advisory committee to China's parliament for heavily forested Jiangxi province, he's also a vice-president of the China National Forestry Industry Federation."

http://www.financialpost.com/todays-paper/Allen+Chan/5325432/story.html

Article in SCMP on Serious CrIsis between PRC and Vatican

Conflict between PRC and Vatican reaching crisis point:
http://bit.ly/o3NnsK

U.S. ambassador in wikileaked cable reported Canadian diplomatic trips to China accomplished little

In the latest tranche of Wikileaks of US diplomatic cables there is one from the US Embassy in Ottawa commenting on the lack of "deliverables" from visits to China in 2007 by David Emerson and Jim Flaherty. This cable was reported in the Globe and Mail on Thursday in Mark MacKinnon's report "Canadian diplomatic trips to China accomplished little, U.S. ambassador says" (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/canadian-diplomatic-trips-to-china-accomplished-little-us-ambassador-says/article2139940/). The original cable can be read at http://wikileaks.org/cable/2007/02/07OTTAWA213.html 

My judgement is that the issues with regard to senior-level Canadian officials visits to China raised in the US cable remain unchanged 4 years on.

Thinking about it, it this really indicates how one-sided the Canada-China relationship has become over the last 20 years. On these visits our senior cabinet ministers play the role of enhancing the prestige of CCP leaders by appearing on the Chinese news sitting on over stuffed chairs depicted as listening supplicantly to yet another stupefyingly wordy "comprehensive briefing" by a Chinese leader. Our diplomats in China struggle to come up with go-through-the-motions hollow announcements for the visiting minister to complement the courtesy calls and tours and banquets these things devolve in to.

On the other hand, over this time, China has made so many inroads into Canada that serve the interests of the Communist Party's regime very well. But Canada gets no progress on substance such as fairer access to the Chinese market, human rights concerns or concerns about Chinese espionage in Canada in return. Canada is floundering in China due to our lack of expertise and resources there.

And this suits the Chinese Communist Government just fine.

John Baird's Interview with Xinhua News Agency

John Baird's Interview with Xinhua News Agency

"Canada links future with China"
By : Xinhua|Updated: 2011-08-15

http://en.​kunming.cn​/index/con​tent/2011-​08/15/cont​ent_262861​3.htm

"Recognizing that strong economic and trade complementarity exists
between Canada and China, both countries agree that practical
cooperation should be enhanced to promote increased bilateral trade
and investment, and create new science and technology partnerships
that will lead to jobs, prosperity and economic opportunities for
Canadians and Chinese alike, he said.
"Measures taken include the launch of an economic complementarity
study, the negotiation of a Foreign Investment Promotion and
Protection Agreement (FIPA) and the establishment of joint working
groups on cleantech, infrastructure, and energy under the Joint
Economic and Trade Committee and Strategic Working Group," he said,
"We hope that these measures will far exceed all of our expectations
for bilateral trade between our countries."
People-to-people ties
Baird attached great importance to people-to-people ties."

New Canadian Sanctions on DPRK

New Canadian Sanctions on DPRK: http://www​.internati​onal.gc.ca
/sanctions​/korea-cor​ee.aspx?la​ng=eng&men​u_id=15&vi​ew=d
and statement by Minister of Foreign Affairs: http://www​.internati
onal.gc.ca​/media/aff​/news-comm​uniques/20​11/231.asp​x

China may be worst protectionist ever: U.S. analyst

Bergsten estimated the China's renminbi, also known as the yuan, is currently undervalued by at least 20 percent against the U.S. dollar as a result of China's currency intervention.

That "is the equivalent of a subsidy of 20 percent on all China's exports and an additional tariff of 20 percent on all China's imports," Bergsten said.

http://old.news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110812/bs_nm/us_usa_china_currency/print

加拿大大使馆官方微博

Micro-blog of Embassy of Canada to China can be found at: 

http://weibo.com/canadaweibo

The Honourable Mr. Justice Shore "Reasons for Order and Order" on Lai Changxing Matter

The Honourable Mr. Justice Shore "Reasons for Order and Order" on Lai Changxing Matter is very much worth the read.

http://decisions.fct-cf.gc.ca/en/2011/2011fc915/2011fc915.html