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Most of what Canadians read and hear about modern China occupies a narrow space between calculated dishonesty and aggressive deception.

A Chinese economy still overwhelmingly run through politicized structures is portrayed as a hub of free enterprise. A state ruled by a despotic clique is sold as a forward-thinking global leader. A regime bent on deploying technology to control its populace and wage cyber warfare abroad, is featured as a bastion of technological marvels. A country that holds little genuine affinity for Canada, beyond what will serve its own interests, is presented as a loyal, unambiguous friend.

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That China is a different nation today than it was 40, 30, or even 10 years ago is undeniable. But the unqualified praise for the lessons Beijing belatedly learned since the 1980s must not be used to conceal how China remains captive to a deeply regressive governing ideology — a mixture of Communism, chauvinism, mercantilism, and colonialism.