Jason Kenney's Speech at Burton Book Launch December 1, 2025 Lord Elgin Hotel

Jason Kenney's Speech at Ottawa Book Launch December 1, 2025 Lord Elgin Hotel

He was the only academic willing to challenge the deep and subtle Canadian foreign policy consensus about China relations and always thoughtfully. He was one of the first Canadian scholars to go into China following the normalization of relations in 1970, and always with a fair mind. 

He and I encountered each other when he was assigned a contract by the Department of Foreign Affairs to produce a report specifically on the Canada-China  human rights dialogue. And I'll allow him to summarize it. But, the headline was essentially he said it was a sham and a fraud, and that it got in the way of substantive, respectful dialogue between the two sides. 

Well, the Department tried to bury his report. I was then the chairman of the Human Rights Subcommittee of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Commons. And so we passed a motion as a committee to force the release of this report, and all hell broke loose, complicated by the fact that I was actually the parliamentary secretary to the Prime Minister at the time. 

And that was just the beginning of a long and interesting journey that I had with Charles for many years in government. 

I want to say that for all of those years, I tried at my best to challenge a consensus that was not operating in the interest of Canada, and I am pleased to say that that view, Charles’ view, the view of many of you in this room, has been vindicated, and it's not a happy education, but it's a vindication nevertheless. And I can tell you that the Canadian business community that was speaking with one voice 15 years ago, 10 years ago, maybe even five years ago, suggesting that the only possible Canadian policy vis-a-vis Beijing was when it was a total supplication. On all counts, that is no longer the case because virtually none of those businesses actually made earnings with their operations, most of them if they made the effort there found that their local partners  absconded with intellectual property, with copyright, with patent, with sensitive information, with profits, with capital. With no legal recourse, despite the Harper government's best efforts. All of which is to say that it's been a bitter vindication.

 But Charles, you've been a voice in the wilderness. You've been a prophet. And you more than anyone in Canada. Is responsible for the fundamental shift from cynicism towards realism in the Canada China relationship, and I just want to say, as a friend, thank you for that. Thank you.

Burton: China reboot: A lot is at risk in Carney’s search for markets in January 20, 2026 Toronto Star

China reboot: A lot is at risk in Carney’s search for markets

https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/china-reboot-a-lot-is-at-risk-in-carney-s-search-for-markets/article_07d17cbb-fce8-4597-b5c6-b673368e9cb7.html

The complexity of this relationship hasn’t changed. While Mr. Carney described a “new strategic partnership … that will help set Canada and China up for the new world order”, Chinese President Xi Jinping referred to the partnership as “with a sense of responsibility for history, for the people and for the world.” The new order that Canada is invited to join is the China-dominated world Xi envisions by 2050, which he calls "the community of the common destiny of mankind."

Beijing likes joint statements that cite “strategic partnerships.” Canadian officials may not have grasped the consequences of the phrase, but Xinhua news agency seized upon it with the headline, “Xi calls for advancing building of China-Canada new strategic partnership.” 

Past experiences of Canada and other nations is that if we don’t subordinate our values and sovereignty to China’s expectations of a “strategic partner,” then canola sales don’t happen, or Beijing’s interpretations of agreements weaken considerably from how we understood them.

Former diplomat speaks on Canada and China's shifting relations, and implications for U.S. ties: Charles Burton on CTV

Charles Burton Warns Canada on China Policy

How relations with China could impact CUSMA negotiations: Charles Burton on CTV

 

China Has None of Our Values — Why Call It a “Strategic Partnership”? Charles Burton on CTV.

 

Burton: Can Carney succeed in China? History is not on his side

Can Carney succeed in China? History is not on his side  

https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/can-carney-succeed-in-china-history-is-not-on-his-side/article_8faab3a7-3adb-4901-a38f-891eb0a72e54.html

Amidst tectonic geopolitical change, is it even possible for Carney and Xi to set a new workable relationship?

For its part, Ottawa has already signalled that Canada no longer views China as an “increasingly disruptive global power.” The new phrase is “strategic partner” — reviving a 2005 framework that laid dormant during years of tensions between the two countries.

That’s an interesting characterization, given China’s other strategic partners: Russia and North Korea.

Canada’s own past futilities — including years of efforts to expand market access in China, often by acquiescing to Beijing’s demands — have yielded scant rewards. Carney’s “pragmatic recalibration” of the relationship is unlikely to fare better, as Beijing grapples to revive its own economy crippled by slumping consumer confidence.

China is not Canada’s strategic partner. At best, we are competitors; at worst, Beijing poses a systemic challenge to the fragile rules-based international order we claim to uphold.

As Mark Carney prepares to pursue fair trade with a regime whose values are well known, Canadians must ask themselves: Which path do we take?

Tony Clement talks with Dr. Charles Burton about his new book " The Beaver & The Dragon, Canada–China tensions & key insights"

 

Tony Clement talks with Dr. Charles Burton about his new book " The Beaver & The Dragon, Canada–China tensions & key insights. " 

 

https://vimeo.com/1140091174

 

Shorter version:
https://youtu.be/uJEEx6R-jpM?si=1ZnLrhrMhYu3PsNs

Charles Burton's evidence to the Canadian Commons Procedure Committee on Chinese Interference in Canadian Democratic Institutions

 

Burton: Canada-China relations are about more than business

Burton: Canada-China relations are about more than business

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-canada-china-relations-are-about-more-than-business/


Mr. Carney, in subordinate mode, echoed the Chinese messaging, promising “pragmatic and constructive” engagement. “Constructive and pragmatic” is specific Beijing propaganda code. What it means is, in return for access to our markets, you shall not voice criticism of Chinese actions that violate international norms.

That would include Canada perhaps ignoring situations like China’s interference in Canada’s democratic processes or its intimidation of Chinese Canadians and permanent residents.

Internationally, this may mean Canada does not challenge China over its policy regarding Hong Kong, Taiwan and the South China Sea or Beijing’s practice of providing surveillance technology to repressive autocrats to suppress democratic forces.

We should assume that Canada would no longer speak out about China’s policies of genocide against Uyghurs or its violation of the language, cultural and religious rights of Tibetans and other ethnicities.

But it was Mr. Carney’s final words before the leaders went into their meeting that were most revealing: “We will establish a road to seize the many great opportunities between our countries and also to have the platform that’s needed for the dialogue to help build a more sustainable and inclusive international system.”

“A more sustainable and inclusive international system” is Beijing’s favoured terminology to describe China’s planned new world order, which it calls “the community of the common destiny of mankind,” which it sees as buttressing its rise as global hegemon, supplanting a fading Uncle Sam.

China has already mapped out the rising and falling of empires. They plan a world that abandons the liberal democratic principles of the postwar United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, international law against genocide and torture and the equal sovereignty of nations.