Canada blindly following US into a trap

The recent resignation of Bob Pickard from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank has triggered what appears to be a storm in a tea cup. A Canadian national, Pickard, who was the director-general of the AIIB's Department of Communication, alleged that the bank is "dominated by the Communist Party of China" in his resignation letter, forcing the AIIB to respond to his baseless charge.

Like most multilateral development banks, the AIIB has maintained a low profile since its inception. Without any song or dance, the AIIB has focused on providing funds for countries in the region to help them build or improve their infrastructure.

But Pickard's resignation and allegation have prompted the bank to make it clear that it had supported Pickard since he assumed his post in March 2022, and acted in a professional manner by ordering an investigation into Pickard's claim.

That there is more to Pickard's resignation and allegation was made clear when the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, in a Twitter thread, claimed that "Chinese intelligence officers were targeting Canadians both domestically and abroad in a bid to gain access to 'confidential privileged' information".

Also, earlier this month, Zhuang Wenhao, a member of the Canadian parliament, was informed by the country's Security Intelligence Service that an official in the Chinese consulate in Toronto has been expelled because of his China-related remarks.

The Canadian side used the pretext of national security, alleging that China has been interfering in Canada's internal affairs, to expel the Chinese diplomat.

All this makes it important to make it clear that the Chinese government has always strictly adhered to diplomatic and international relations norms. And the Chinese consulate general in Toronto refuted Canada's accusations, saying they are baseless.

The Canadian government declared the Chinese consular official in Toronto persona non grata based on rumors of China interfering in Canada's internal affairs spread by some politicians and media outlets, whose mission now, it seems, is to smear China.

China and Canada have neither historical nor strategic disputes. For years, they enjoyed stable relations and benefited from economic and trade cooperation. In fact, Sino-Canadian ties became a model for China's relations with Western countries. The mutually beneficial bilateral relationship could and should have been further strengthened.

But previous US president Donald Trump used sanctions and coercive means to curb China's technology development, and dragged Canada into the disputes that were manufactured in the White House and the Capitol. However, the potential of China-Canada economic and trade relations is much greater than US-Canada trade and economic ties.

By releasing Meng Wanzhou in October 2021 after unjustifiably detaining the Huawei chief financial officer for three years, Ottawa created conditions for improving China-Canada relations. But the expulsion of a Chinese diplomat will sour China-Canada relations again.

Canada has also indicated it could withdraw from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, which it officially joined in 2018 despite the United States' objections, as it saw opportunities that it could cash in on.

After Pickard resigned from the AIIB, Canadian Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, who is also the Canadian representative in the bank's board of governors, said Ottawa will halt all official activity at the AIIB as the Finance Ministry carries out an "immediate" review of the allegation and of Canada's involvement with the AIIB.

"The Government of Canada will also discuss this matter with our allies and partners who are members of the Bank," she said, sparking speculation about a possible Canadian withdrawal from the AIIB and a possible domino effect among the other US allies.

Canada is once again sacrificing its relations with China for the benefit of the US. Like the illegal detention of Meng, Canada seems to have followed the US' instructions to expel the Chinese diplomat. Some politicians are using the "China threat" theory to pressure the Canadian government to adopt a more hawkish policy toward China. And by criticizing China and alleging its intelligence officers are phishing for "privileged confidential" information from Canadian nationals, the Canadian government aims to not only silence its political opponents at home, but also gain some political capital and advantage in elections.

Smearing and slandering China seems to have become a habit with Canada. For example, in March 2021, China sanctioned some Canadian legislators in response to Canada's sanctions against some Chinese entities based on lies and baseless rumors, including the use of "forced labor" and so-called human rights violations in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

This is a political farce being played out by some Canadian politicians. Due to their ideological bias, some Canadian politicians have been manipulating China-related issues. Zhuang Wenhao, who was informed by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service about the Chinese diplomat's expulsion, is an immigrant from Hong Kong. He was sanctioned by the Chinese government for proposing a bill in March 2021 that baselessly accused China of violating human rights in Xinjiang. The Chinese diplomat's expulsion is another irresponsible move that could deteriorate China-Canada relations.

Canada regards itself as a human rights defender and accuses China of so-called human rights violations. Its logic is that Western countries such as the US and Canada have the right to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, and those countries should allow them to do so.

Canada does not have the capability or capacity to bear the consequences of provoking China and souring bilateral relations. It should realize that they can no longer use trade with China to promote its economic development, and depend on the US for its security and also join hands with Washington to target China.

After several years of frictions with the US and some other Western countries, China realizes they are using provocative means, including human rights issues, to divert China's attention from its modernization drive and pursuit of national rejuvenation, and thus check its development.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should understand this fact and stop being used as a pawn by the US against China. He would do better to take a leaf out of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's book and make genuine efforts to improve Sino-Canadian ties to the benefit of both sides or, better still, learn from French President Emmanuel Macron how to nurture bilateral ties for mutual benefit.

Li Qingsi is a researcher at the National Academy of Development and Strategy, and a professor at the School of International Studies, Renmin University of China, and Zhang Xiangyu is a postgraduate of Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School.

The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.

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