Posted on 11/15/2006 7:21:53 PM PST by Clive
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Prime Minister Stephen Harper hinted Wednesday that Chinese President Hu Jintao cancelled an upcoming meeting in Vietnam because he intended to question China’s human rights record, specifically the case of Chinese Canadian Huseyin Celil, who is in jail in China.
Harper, traveling to the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference, said Canada values its trade and business relationship with China, but “I don’t think Canadians want us to sell out important Canadian values. They don’t want us to sell out to the almighty dollar.”
The prime minister added that they are open to meeting with other governments, but only unconditionally.
“I can say for China and for other countries that our policy – like open federalism – is open international politics. We intend to meet anyone, but we’ll talk in a frank manner and we won’t accept conditions on the subjects of discussion.
“I think Canadians want us to promote our trade relations worldwide, and we do that, but I might say that this is a government that speaks with a voice that is frank and direct in international affairs.”
Harper is scheduled to meet privately with leaders from Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand and Korea while attending the 20-nation summit.
The recent dispute is one of many since Harper’s Conservative came to power. Foreign Affairs Minister Peter McKay accused China of industrial espionage earlier this year. The Chinese, meanwhile, were unhappy after Canada granted the Dalai Lama honourary citizenship. The Tibetan spiritual leader is viewed by China as a separatist.
Celil was accused of participating in a 1994 plot to assassinate a Kyrgyzstan politician. He came to Canada in 2001 after escaping from prison in China and fleeing to Uzbekistan. His wife and four of his six children live in Burlington, Ont.
Celil was extradited earlier this year to China after being arrested in Uzbekistan, and sentenced to 15 years in prison. Though he carries a Canadian passport, China did not notify Canada of his circumstances.
“We were very critical of past governments for not vocally defended the interests of Canadian citizens who had been mistreated abroad, and I think when it comes to general human rights I think we have a general obligation to express our values,” Harper said. “But when it comes to the specific case of a Canadian citizen who is being mistreated, we have an absolute moral obligation to defend those citizens and express our views.”
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What a breath of fresh air. The last government wanted to distance itself from the US while it snuggled up to China. Props to Harper on this.
Please send me a FReepmail to get on or off this Canada ping list.
Thank you Canada for getting back on track. I think we here in the US will need your friendship more than ever with our little Rat problem.
In a perfect world, Stephen Harper would be the Republican nominee for President in '08.
Nope, sorry, he is desperately needed here.
A conservative leader with balls... in Canada. I think I'll go stick my head in the oven for awhile.
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