Maybe if they draw pictures for us, we might understand why prime minister Justin Trudeau would ask U.S. president Donald Trump to help with Canada’s current problems in China. Talk about the old adage of never sending a boy to do a man’s job! Why would you ask someone who has proven himself incompetent to help solve a problem that the incompetent’s country has caused?
This is an embarrassment to all Canadians. It is probably just as embarrassing to millions of Americans. The supposition is that the two Canadians (and maybe more) are being used as a tit-for-tat for Canada arresting a Chinese business executive. It seems the legal warrant is from the Americans and as Canada and the United States have an extradition agreement, the warrant was served on her when she landed at Vancouver on her company plane.
Canada was doing what it is obligated to do under the extradition agreement. Canada also protected her human rights under the treaty and is allowing her to challenge the American order. Her hearing is set, expeditiously, for early February. Her lawyers can then set forth her objections to the extradition.
In the meantime, the lady is enjoying a restful time at her modest Vancouver home and not languishing in prison.
But the tit-for-tat Canadians might not be enjoying their visit in the Chinese prison system. It seems the Canadian ambassador was allowed the courtesy of a visit but no charges have been discussed and no lawyers are allowed. The Chinese do not seem to understand the concept of a legal system that recognizes human rights or democracy. The Chinese ruling party propagandists will tell you that everything runs quite comfortably, thank you.
And that brings us back to another person who does not understand. Why would the prime minister embarrass himself by talking to the U.S. president about the matter? That could make it worse. Do we have to prove that we are lap dogs for that incompetent in the White House?
What the Chinese do understand is the concept of ‘face.’ And you do not want to play the game with the Chinese where you take one of them, they take two of yours. They have the advantage of numbers in that game.
Best of all, you should leave the problem to diplomats who understand the Chinese. Let them figure out a way to let the Chinese save face.
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Copyright 2019 © Peter Lowry
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