Former Canadian diplomat Michael Cobligg says China’s recent demand for Canada to put aside the “normal” differences and work with the communist regime in pushing back U.S. tariffs is an attempt to drive the wedge between Ottawa and Washington to advance Beijing’s strategic goals.
Kovrig said Wang’s interview with CTV was a calculated move by Beijing, “in the context of much broader strategic rivalry and the growth of the Cold War between China and the US.”
“He’s looking to move Canada away from the US, a campaign where the Chinese are playing around the world,” Koblig said. “So it’s not just Canada. I’ve seen his counterparts in Europe trying to convey the same message.”
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“Rewrite” International Order
Kovrig, who was voluntarily detained in China for more than 1,000 days between 2018 and 2021, warned against joining Beijing’s request.
“China is not a friendly country,” Koblig said. “(The King’s) words are friendly. His smile is friendly, but his government’s actions are ultimately harmful to Canadian interests and values. And that’s the same story in Europe.”
Canada’s relationship with China was placed on ice in 2018 after RCMP arrested Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou over a US extradition warrant for fraud. In clear retaliation, Beijing detained Kovrig and fellow Canadian Michael Span, and both men denied it on charges of spying a few days later. The two spent nearly three years in prison before Meng was released in a transaction that was allowed to return to China.
Kobrig said he is “not fully aware” of the risks posed by China in terms of the administration’s worldview, ideology and agenda. He noted the “big gap” between the public’s knowledge and understanding of these risks among experts, experts, intelligence analysts, non-government researchers and academics.
“One of the things I’m trying to do is that the gap is approaching because we need a wider range of Canadian masses, European and Australian public to understand the challenges we are dealing with.
“[Chinese authorities]want to rewrite the international order. The Communist Party of China wants to control East Asia, carve out an influence area in the region that all countries in the region protect, and make a policy to make sure that China is fine before turning to Beijing first,” Kobrig said.
“And they ultimately want to erode the system of rules and norms that Canada has benefited for years.”
“Why do we have all these problems in the US? Why is the world at such a obstacle is the system that was built after World War II and the other Western countries are destroying, and the key source of that challenge is the rise of China and its strategic rivals, China’s profit and loss, free riding and the exploitation of its systems.
“China Strategy”
Asked what the federal government under newly elected Prime Minister Mark Carney can do regarding Canada’s foreign policy against China, Coblig said Carney and his cabinet should prepare the country for a “more harsher geopolitical environment.”
“China is a major factor in that shift, so we need a Chinese strategy, a government-wide strategy where all ministers are on the same page and the Chinese cannot find and exploit cracks in various ways,” the former diplomat said.
Kovrig said that a complete reset of Canada’s relations with China is not possible and there may be “temptation” among new government ministers to think “I can solve the Chinese problem and become someone who resets relations.”
“I think it’s going to take a cold shower. That’s not possible,” he said.
“What is viable is to work within that space.–And there are many possibilities–It can at least be managed diplomatically and limit the possibility that China may take even more harmful measures. ”
Kovrig warned businesses heading to China in an attempt to diversify risks from US tariffs. He said that while some goods could still be traded, the key question is what Beijing wants to ultimately achieve from its trade and how it will affect Canada’s economy.
“China wants to control the global supply chain and control important minerals, high-tech, etc., and master the high level of 21st century economic command.–AI, batteries, solar panels, electric cars, all of that,” he said.
Matthew Horwood, Noe Chartier and the Canadian media contributed to this report.
