Harper promises to ‘pursue’ China on ‘lack of democracy’
(caption: Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper (left) shakes hands as he begins talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao at the G8 Summit in Heiligendamm, Germany, Friday, June 8, 2007. CP PHOTO/Fred Chartrand) Canada)
Reuters, ChinaNews.com, CIV – Canada turned up the pressure on China over human rights on Friday, telling President Hu Jintao that it would pursue Beijing’s “problems with the lack of democracy,” Prime Minister Stephen Harper said.
Harper also told reporters he had brought up the case of Huseyin Celil, a Canadian-Chinese citizen and Uighur activist who was jailed for life in April for “terrorist activities.” China has repeatedly told Canada not to broach the matter.
On the other hand, ChinaNews.com reports Hu Jintao telling Harper that China and Canada should “respect each other on an equal level.”
Harper is one of the most vocal critics of China’s human rights record among western leaders, shrugging off complaints from businesses who say his attacks could hit commercial ties.
“Despite problems with the lack of democracy and human rights that still exist … the development of China over the last 25 years (has) in general been good and important for the world,” he said after meeting Hu at a summit in Germany.
“That cannot stop the government from aggressively and appropriately raising very legitimate concerns that we have, not just about general democracy and human rights in China but obviously specific cases such as the Celil case which I raised very directly.”
“Given what’s happened in this case we think it’s inevitable it will continue to be a factor in Canadian policy and therefore a factor in our relations,” said Harper.
“It is essential that we can have such discussions, not just positive discussions but sometimes discussions that are more difficult. I think these discussions will continue.”
Hu Jintao said it’s for the mutual interests that the two Pacific countries continue to build “mutual trust ” and “pragmatic cooperation”.
Hu said it’s normal for China and Canada to have different views on things, as they are two very different countries. He said China is serious about China-Canada relation. China hopes to work with the Canadian government to strengthen cooperation on political, economic, cultural and international affairs, so that the two countries can straight out differences in a constructive way. China also hopes to further develop a “strategic partnership” with Canada.
Harper said he had told Hu that as China “grows in importance and wealth, it will face increasing pressure from the world community on issues on democratic development and human rights.”
China’s record would also come under closer scrutiny when foreigners flocked to the country for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and the 2010 World Fair in Shanghai, he added.
“When you open your country to the world that way and ask every television camera in the world to come in, I would think it would be in your own self interest to make that image as positive as it could be,” he said.
In fact, Harper has become obsessed with grandstanding on human rights and with lecturing other countries.
In an earlier report by Toronto Star, outgoing executive director of the Canada China Business Council Margaret Cornish says: “It’s the ‘lecturing thing’ that troubles the Chinese.”
Anson Chan, Hong Kong’s former chief secretary of administration dubbed “the Conscience of Hong Kong” by Western media, recently spoke in Vancouver and she touched on whether Canada should raise human right issues with China. The keyword is: “be diplomatic”.
Chan said most governments do not like to be lectured like a student. Extreme caution should be taken whenever the issue is brought up under any circumstances. Chan said if there is trust between the two countries, it will be beneficial if the issue is brought up behind the scene or occasionally – and occasionally only – in public. Chan emphasized that the way suggestions are made should be “constructive” and diplomatic. For example, Chan said, Canada might want to start the human rights topic with themes like “protection of a free economy”… etc. It’d be easier for China to take the suggestions this way.
Chan said the relations between China and Canada are multi-faceted. It’s inevitable that the human rights issues will be brought up during the course of their interaction. At this time Canada can share with China its values and belief. Chan in fact agreed that Canada should speak up. However, it’s all about how to say it.
And, not only China, no countries in this world would like to be “lectured”:
βAll the media hype around such cases that questions democracy and justice usually backfires because Arab leaders do not like to have their countries criticized in public,β said Azzam Azzam, an Arab Israeli who was sentenced to 15 years in prison for spying on behalf of Israel. He was released 8 years later and talked about how the West can deal with Arab nations.
Another recent example of Harper’s obsession:
Putin showed little sympathy for Harper’s dismay over recent developments. Their exchange at a meeting during the Group of Eight summit began with Harper telling Putin that it’s his duty to allow protest.
Harper is following U.S. President George W. Bush in criticizing Putin’s record on democracy.
Tags: China, democracy, Politics, Stephen Harper
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