Read on Twitter
1/ Standing up to China is worth the price. “When our sovereignty, national security, and safety of our citizens are at stake, Canada must take a stand.”
Thank you to the @OttawaCitizen for publishing my op-ed, and to @TerryGlavin for his help! https://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/ra-lee-standing-up-to-china-is-worth-the-price
Thank you to the @OttawaCitizen for publishing my op-ed, and to @TerryGlavin for his help! https://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/ra-lee-standing-up-to-china-is-worth-the-price
2/ My article was inspired by this other one 
which overstates Canada’s “dependence” on China. Canadian humility run amok. https://twitter.com/Alex_at_ACHK/status/1317235910526816257
which overstates Canada’s “dependence” on China. Canadian humility run amok. https://twitter.com/Alex_at_ACHK/status/1317235910526816257
3/ No trade relationship is worth permitting Beijing to harass Canadian students, infiltrate our telecom networks, and kidnap our citizens.
The cost of acquiescing to Beijing's bullying is far higher than a strong, strategic response. https://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/ra-lee-standing-up-to-china-is-worth-the-price
The cost of acquiescing to Beijing's bullying is far higher than a strong, strategic response. https://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/ra-lee-standing-up-to-china-is-worth-the-price
4/ Compared with other middle powers, Canadian exporters are relatively safe from retaliatory trade restrictions from Beijing.
All of these nations have banned Huawei from their 5G networks and have not hesitated to confront Beijing over its litany of offenses.
All of these nations
have banned Huawei from their 5G networks and have not hesitated to confront Beijing over its litany of offenses.
5/ For all the talk of China’s restrictions on Canadian canola, it seems like Canadian canola producers are doing fine after all: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-canada-canola-china/like-gold-canadian-canola-prices-spike-as-shippers-find-back-door-to-china-idUSKCN2550JI
6/ We can't count on Chinese imports. During Covid, planes sent to China returned empty; and 1 million masks that we did get were defective.
But Taiwan donated 500k medical masks to us. This shows who our true friends are. Thank you @TaiwanInCanada! https://globalnews.ca/news/6909700/coronavirus-canada-taiwan-masks/
But Taiwan donated 500k medical masks to us. This shows who our true friends are. Thank you @TaiwanInCanada! https://globalnews.ca/news/6909700/coronavirus-canada-taiwan-masks/
7/ What about international students? Like with trade, Canadian higher education is considerably more diversified than in peer nations, and the threat from Beijing is overstated.
8/ Chinese student numbers in Canada flatlined years ago, and there are now far more Indian students in Canada.
9/ I think that we have some PTSD from the Saudi experience.
But Chinese students are different: they generally self-funded and are not reliant on a government scholarship to study abroad. Beijing would find it harder to retaliate than Riyadh did. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/saudi-arabia-students-remain-canadian-universities-healthcare-1.5141470
But Chinese students are different: they generally self-funded and are not reliant on a government scholarship to study abroad. Beijing would find it harder to retaliate than Riyadh did. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/saudi-arabia-students-remain-canadian-universities-healthcare-1.5141470
10/ And Beijing’s influence in Canadian higher education creates its own risks, including state-coordinated harassment of Canadian students.
Remember what happened to @chemilhamoooo? https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/china-tibet-student-election-1.5019648
Remember what happened to @chemilhamoooo? https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/china-tibet-student-election-1.5019648
11/ These challenges are not unique to Canada. But while Canada has dithered, smaller countries have taken action.
Andrew Coyne @acoyne writes that “Australia’s example, as courageous as it is principled, ought to shame us [Canadians] into our senses.” https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-good-on-ya-australia-is-bravely-showing-canada-the-pain-and-promise/
Andrew Coyne @acoyne writes that “Australia’s example, as courageous as it is principled, ought to shame us [Canadians] into our senses.” https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-good-on-ya-australia-is-bravely-showing-canada-the-pain-and-promise/
12/ Sweden is far smaller than Canada and has its own “Michael,” but kicked out Huawei AND Confucius Institutes, which have been called Chinese “propaganda” designed to “brainwash” students https://twitter.com/Alex_at_ACHK/status/1318538608471646208
13/ The Czechs just sent a delegation to Taiwan, incurring Beijing’s wrath. But Prague Mayor Hřib says that Beijing’s power is “overrated” and the lack of retaliation was “funny.” https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2020/10/24/after-thumbing-his-nose-at-china-pragues-mayor-has-this-advice-for-canada-their-power-is-overrated.html
14/ As the Washington Post reported, “other than a lot of huffing and puffing [from Beijing], there has been no retaliation… the costs of a principled, values-based posture toward China are much smaller than [expected].” https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/09/03/czechs-are-giving-europe-lesson-how-deal-with-china/
15/ There is no cost-free way to deal with Beijing. But the costs are reduced if like minded nations are honest about the threat and work together on solutions.
16/ In a @MLInstitute paper (), Pickford and @JeffreyFCollins hope to "devise a common approach to trade boycotts and threats," collaborate on defense, and ensure that universities and institutions have diversified funding streams https://twitter.com/Alex_at_ACHK/status/1327809552943902720
), Pickford and @JeffreyFCollins hope to "devise a common approach to trade boycotts and threats," collaborate on defense, and ensure that universities and institutions have diversified funding streams https://twitter.com/Alex_at_ACHK/status/1327809552943902720
17/ This effort to sustain Australian wine producers is cute, but isn’t a strategy. https://twitter.com/ipacglobal/status/1333668013283926016
18/ The US, Australia, and others have their own “Michaels,” but Canadians are particularly exposed because of their large numbers in China and Hong Kong and explicit threats by the Chinese ambassador. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-chinese-envoy-says-canadas-acceptance-of-hong-kong-refugees/
19/ Canada & allies must take constantly urge Chinese officials to cease arbitrary detentions and exit bans - and not just of our own nationals.
We must encourage citizens to return, and warn businesses, universities, & tourists about the risks inherent when traveling to China.
We must encourage citizens to return, and warn businesses, universities, & tourists about the risks inherent when traveling to China.
20/ We must protect ourselves from foreign interference, as Australia has.
The recent Tory motion is a great start. Members of ALL parties supported it. https://twitter.com/alliancecanhk/status/1329171056083525637
The recent Tory motion is a great start. Members of ALL parties supported it. https://twitter.com/alliancecanhk/status/1329171056083525637
21/ As Pickford and @JeffreyFCollins say, "Australia responded with institutional and legal measures to shore up the country’s sovereignty and national security," and "Australia provides particularly useful lessons" for Canada. https://twitter.com/Alex_at_ACHK/status/1327809552943902720
22/ Most importantly, there must be multipartisan consensus about the challenges. China is not going away, and Canadian politicians need to be honest with the tradeoffs required to defend our sovereignty. https://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/ra-lee-standing-up-to-china-is-worth-the-price
23/ No trade relationship is worth permitting Beijing to harass Canadian students, infiltrate our telecom networks, and kidnap our citizens. The cost of inaction is far too high. https://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/ra-lee-standing-up-to-china-is-worth-the-price
24/ Thank you to the @nationalpost for republishing my op-ed https://nationalpost.com/opinion/ra-lee-standing-up-to-china-is-worth-the-price/wcm/427d72be-bee1-45ca-8a2a-165021f39dea
25/ And of course, thank you to @MLInstitute for their republication as well https://www.macdonaldlaurier.ca/standing-china-worth-price/
