PMO announces that PM to visit China November 5-10

PM to visit China



“As the world’s second-largest economy and Canada’s second-largest single-country trading partner, China represents tremendous opportunities for Canada. I look forward to meeting with government and business leaders to further strengthen bilateral relations and lay an even broader framework of agreements that will enable Canadian businesses to truly take advantage of China’s large, diverse and dynamic economy.” – Prime Minister Stephen Harper

Puzzling reporting by China Daily that PM will be attending APEC after all

"A senior Chinese diplomat confirmed that Harper will be in Beijing to attend the November APEC leaders meeting.
The confirmation followed comments from Harper's office this week suggesting that he had canceled plans to attend the APEC meeting in the wake of terror attacks in Canada that claimed the lives of two soldiers.There was even speculation that Harper would not attend the APEC event after relations with China hit a rocky patch earlier this year.China's Ambassador to Canada Luo Zhaohui said at a reception at his residence on Wednesday that Harper will pay an official visit and attend the annual gathering of the 21 APEC member economies."


http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2014-10/31/content_18836146.htm

Prime Minister Harper will not be in attendance at the APEC meeting in Beijing, Nov. 10-11.

Harper to remain in Ottawa for Remembrance Day | CTV News

In Hong Kong, Deflated Hopes for Change | Protest 2014 | The New York Times

My interview with Christine Birak on CBC News Network "Canada's Hong Kong response lacking, ex-envoy says"

My interview with Christine Birak on CBC News Network "Canada's Hong Kong response lacking, ex-envoy says"  can be viewed here: http://bit.ly/1rLEU68


There is also a related report in the Globe and Mail: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/ottawas-tepid-response-to-hong-kong-protests-a-shift-in-policy/article20930429/

Video of my interview with Pat Bolland "The demand for democracy"

Video of my interview with Pat Bolland "The demand for democracy" : Prime time : SunNews Video Gallery - http://bit.ly/1nKUz7x broadcast on September 29, 2014

My Views on Hong Kong Protests Broadcast on CBC "The Current" This Morning

"Hong Kong demonstrators are angry and continue to demand free elections. New leader Xi Jinping believes in strong leadership and is determined to preserve China's political system. Protesters says it will take more than tear gas to back down. So will Beijing compromise or crack down?"

http://www.cbc.ca/thecurrent/episode/2014/09/30/hong-kong-pro-democracy-protests-demand-beijiing-to-reconsider-free-and-open-elections/

My interview on RCI "Leader may cancel China tour over couple’s arrest"

Leader may cancel China tour over couple’s arrest


This is a long radio interview with me, broadcast on Radio Canada International, that reflects my views on a number of aspects of Canada-China relations
There is also a version in Mandarin: http://www.rcinet.ca/zh/2014/09/15/24768/?-???????????????????/

Two Chinese reporters banned from Prime Minister's Arctic trip: video

The Prime Minister's Office will not allow two Chinese reporters to join a trip to the arctic.

Two Chinese reporters banned from arctic trip : Prime time : SunNews Video Gallery


Pat Bolland's interview with me broadcast on SUN TV on August 19, 2014.

My Comments on Chinese Ambassador's Op-Ed Relating to the Garratts' Incarceration

Chinese Ambassador Luo Zhaohui has published an Op-Ed in the Globe and Mail: "China and Canada: We can manage our differences" http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/china-and-canada-we-can-manage-our-differences/article20074157/

Commentary about it is given here: "Chinese envoy offers olive branch on Garratts’ detention in Globe letter"
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/chinese-envoy-offers-olive-branch-on-garratts-detention-in-globe-letter/article20073652/

My own Op-Ed about the Garratts incarceration "Canadians detained in China are pawns in a bigger geopolitical game" can be read at: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/canadians-detained-in-china-are-pawns-in-a-bigger-geopolitical-game/article19946529/


My take on it: The Ambassador's Op-Ed follows the standard messaging of the Chinese Foreign Ministry to Western nations. Our strongly held concerns about China's human rights record, Chinese state espionage, and China's support for repressive regimes in the Third World are pejoratively dismissed as "bumps and grumps."  The notion that we should "manage our differences" really implies that we should set these serious concerns aside and focus on "practical cooperation" in trade and investment.  The reference to "face up to individual cases and properly handle our differences" almost certainly refers to the Ambassador's concern about the Garratts' arrest on blatantly trumped up charges of espionage as he puts it "kidnapping our bilateral relations."

To my understanding the Garratts are being held by the Ministry of State Security.  The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has little influence over the much more powerful Ministry of State Security.  The Ambassador will be held to account by his Government if under his ambassadorship Canada-China relations flounder.  So I would imagine that Mr. Luo would be much relieved if the Garratts were deported back to Canada.  I fervently hope that this will happen.  But I see this Op-Ed as a defensive public plea in the face of the Embassy's considerable concern over what they are hearing from DFATD about the potential impact of the Garratts continuing incarceration on Canada's China policy.

My Op-Ed in today's Globe and Mail: Canadians detained in China are pawns in a bigger geopolitical game - The Globe and Mail

Canadians detained in China are pawns in a bigger geopolitical game - The Globe and Mail

Purge of Xu Caihou is Hugely Significant

Purge of Xu Caihou is hugely significant: 

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-28084886

It is about serious factional issues, not just his massive receiving of bribes. The latter defines many, many (most) serious officials, but it is Mr. Xu that is being purged.

25 Years Ago: It's Not That I Didn't Understand

25 years ago, its not that I didn't understand, but then came the 35th day of May. 

RIP Tiananmen martyrs, young idealistic lives caught terribly short.

What Beijing learned from Tiananmen: Democracy isn’t needed for prosperity

Article in Globe and Mail by Charlie Foran citing my memories "What Beijing learned from Tiananmen: Democracy isn’t needed for prosperity" http://fw.to/yzfR4KZ

John Ivison: To the governor-general, Genghis Khan isn’t so much a genocidal warlord as a ‘purveyor of knowledge and enlightenment’ | National Post

John Ivison: To the governor-general, Genghis Khan isn’t so much a genocidal warlord as a ‘purveyor of knowledge and enlightenment’ | National Post



Some one needs to have a serious chat with whoever it was in DFATD who put these appallingly misconceived words into the Vice-Regal mouth.

The new Sanjiang Church in Wenzhou has just been completely demolished.

The new Sanjiang Church in Wenzhou has just been completely demolished.  I am simply appalled.

My letter to The Toronto Star about the Statement by Liu Jianhui and Zheng Yaru Published this Morning

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2014/04/26/we_will_never_recover_from_this_awful_tragedy.html


To:  Kevin Cavanagh  AUncles@thestar.ca  Lucy Burton  Jianhui Liu
Dear Alison,

Thank you very much for publishing the translation.  The photo of Liu Qian as a child on the mountain on the front page is lovely.

I just spoke with Liu Jianhui and mentioned the Star's generous offer to make a donation to a charity in the name of Liu Jianhui and Zheng Yaru to a charity.  Well I was very touched to learn that he and his wife had taken some of the money that the Chinese community in Toronto has collected for them and given it to the Sick Kids Hospital, which they could see out of the window of their room in the Doubletree Hotel where they stayed during the trial.  I had told them when I was up in their hotel room about how grateful I was to that hospital because when she was a young teenager my daughter Lucy had had 2 operations of 13 and 4 hours respectively to address a serious heart defect there.  Mr. Liu has asked that the Star's donation also go to Sick Kids.

Hope you are having a good weekend.

Charles



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905-329-9477
Skype: cburton002
http://charlesburton.webplus.net

Xi Jinping Moves to Centralize His Personal Power

NYTimes: National Security Commission Meets for the First Time: 

http://sinosphere.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/04/16/national-security-commission-meets-for-the-first-time/

Victim Impact Statement by Liu Jianhui and Zheng Yaru

https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151981466260825&set=a.10150207235885825.306134.592695824&type=1&theater

Justice Finally Done in the Tragic Death of Liu Qian

Today Brian Dickson has been found guilty of first degree murder in the death of Liu Qian.

Justice has been done, but I feel only deep, deep sadness at her terrible loss.

RIP, Necole.