To Beijing, ‘pragmatic engagement’ means Canada doing what China wants
Arf.
Joly’s visit to Beijing was the first by a Canadian official since 2017. In 2018, the Chinese government arbitrarily arrested Canadian citizens Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor in retaliation for Canada’s detention of Huawei exec Meng Wanzhou. Relations between Canada and China have been in the deep freeze since then, and rightly so. Beijing’s belligerence has only increased, as has its expectation that we merrily go along with it.
China couldn’t care less about what Canada thinks, or what Joly says. It will do what it wants and bring out the “dog beating stick” when we get out of line. And this government is just dancing to its tune.
Postmedia News
Tasha Kheiriddin is Postmedia’s national politics columnist.