Margaret, Canada, China, and Two guys named Mike
All seemed fairly calm with the Iran deal cobbled together by former U.S. President Barrack Obama. Then his term ended and, well, Donald Trump was elected who voided the American portion of the agreement and has taken a hard line on Iran, Cuba and other traditional American rivals. Rumour had it that President Trump in the early days of his presidency was interested in a Nobel for bringing peace to the Korean Peninsula. Alas, even the slower than molasses foreign policy of the Obama administration knew better than to try and befriend the Machiavellian Kim family based on their reputation with missile diplomacy. Kim, now, has returned to his stripes threatening the U.S. with a Christmas present that, no doubt, includes a missile launch of some sort. Indeed, this final weekend of 2019 sees China, Russia, and Iran engaging in military drills in the Gulf of Oman. “The most important achievement of these drills . . . is this message that the Islamic republic of Iran cannot be isolated,” vice-admiral Gholamreza Tahani, a deputy naval commander, said. “These exercises show that relations between Iran, Russia and China have reached a new high level while this trend will continue in the coming years” as quoted in The Financial Times on December 27, 2019.
Political strategists may concur that Barrack Obama's Foreign Policy team simply misunderstood the complexity of Iranian overtures in the Near East and their depth of entanglement with Russia and China. Hence, the 'Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action,' the failure to react to China's rise, and the Libyan imbroglio has left America playing catch - up, and emboldened what may be the new "Axis of Evil +1" including North Korea. If the terminology works for oil despots, it holds with the authoritarian world on a grand scale. Suffice it to say, China sees Meng and Zhengfei as Princeling's, further demonstrating the nexus of the central government in domestic private matters. And so, China has detained and imprisoned Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig in retaliation for the Meng arrest. The two Michael's are being held in cells with 24r hour lighting and minimal consular service. Meanwhile, Meng lives at her Vancouver mansion with a curfew and a security bracelet, not to mention the finest legal representation. Chinese authorities continue to publicly embarrass Canadian officials, withhold trade imports from Canada: canola oil and beef, while the Canada-China trade deficit is 44 billion in 2017, the highest on record. Imagine treating some of your best customers with this level of contempt.
Considering that the only sort of Treaty Canada has with China is the Geneva Convention and FIPA (Foreign Investment and Protection Agreement) there exists minimal recourse outside internal Canadian economic policy to react to China's belligerence. Prime Minister Trudeau has tried to enlist the international community who themselves fear Chinese reprisals, and President Trump to attach the Canadians release as part of the new China-U.S. trade agreement. This is basically an incoherent attempt and nonsensical.
Canada shares the longest border with America. Canadians fear that if we get too close to America, they will swallow us up. Former Dad Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau once referred to Canada - U.S. relations "as like sleeping with an elephant." So, in the spirit of safe - politics, Canada needs to address China with the same vigour that they have bestowed upon Canada. First: move Meng to a women's prison. Second: impose 25% Tariffs on all Chinese imports. Three: reduce Chinese applications to study here. Four: put a hard cap on Chinese foreign investment. Five: lastly, recall the Canadian Ambassador and expel the Chinese Ambassador from Ottawa. Tough times require tough measures. Perhaps if China will talk to Canada with "respect and cooperation" that they espoused during trade talks, Prime Minister Trudeau can arrange the exchange of prisoners in Geneva.
China has rattled many with the detention of the Uighur population in Xinjiang province. A principle characteristic - patriotism - one of the "one country, two systems"traits that entails Hong Kong, Macau, and high on President Xi's wish list - Taiwan, is implicit in Macau according to Professor Sonny Lo, who is a regular columnist and former colleague.https://www.macaubusiness.com/president-xi-jinpings-view-of-macau-and-hong-kong/ Patriotism through education is part of the fabric of every democracy and government. Tibetans were the acid test for China beginning in 1950. Russia under Vladimir Putin has quashed independence movements with force. China careful of post Tiananmen repercussions, has resorted to mass incarcerations and select detentions in their cache of domestic and foreign policy directives.
In lieu of Canada and the two Michael's, the Uighur's in detention, Hongkongers, the Chinese Politburo, Muslim Fundamentalist Groups, and Taiwanese fearful of a Chinese invasion, here is Part Two of The Geneva Convention on Humane Treatment. Lest we forget Tibetans! Canadian officials need to make "no bones" about their intentions to Chinese officials regarding justice and trade. The two Michael's could end up "dead stumps" in 2020.
PART II
Humane Treatment
Article 4 — Fundamental guarantees
- 1 All persons who do not take a direct part or who have ceased to take part in hostilities, whether or not their liberty has been restricted, are entitled to respect for their person, honour and convictions and religious practices. They shall in all circumstances be treated humanely, without any adverse distinction. It is prohibited to order that there shall be no survivors.
- 2 Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, the following acts against the persons referred to in paragraph 1 are and shall remain prohibited at any time and in any place whatsoever:
- (a) violence to the life, health and physical or mental well-being of persons, in particular murder as well as cruel treatment such as torture, mutilation or any form of corporal punishment;
- (b) collective punishments;
- (c) taking of hostages;
- (d) acts of terrorism;
- (e) outrages upon personal dignity, in particular humiliating and degrading treatment, rape, enforced prostitution and any form of indecent assault;
- (f) slavery and the slave trade in all their forms;
- (g) pillage;
- (h) threats to commit any of the foregoing acts.
