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The PMO and Global Affairs don’t deny the conversations but say they didn’t intend to muzzle anyone and the message was “not clearly communicated.”

Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS

A naïve person might accept that the PMO just wanted experts who frequently comment publicly to have the latest information from Global Affairs. But the context strongly suggests otherwise.

Canada and China are at loggerheads over Canada’s arrest of Meng Wanzhou, the CFO of Huawei, on behalf of the Americans, who want her extradited to the U.S. to face charges. In retaliation, China detained under cruel conditions two Canadians, Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, in what many, including ex-envoy Mulroney, have termed “hostage diplomacy.” China has also halted Canadian farm imports such as canola and says it found a restricted additive in pork products that were certified by Canada.

A naïve person might accept that the PMO just wanted experts who frequently comment publicly to have the latest information from Global Affairs. But the context strongly suggests otherwise.

China wields its power ruthlessly. But it also seeks to suppress criticism through subtler means. In Claws of the Panda, his 2019 book on Beijing’s influence abroad, journalist Jonathan Manthorpe provides ample detail of the insidious influence China asserts at all levels of Canadian society: business, education – and politics.

Ottawans may have seen a local example recently, when the CEO of the annual Dragon Boat Festival reportedly ordered a man to remove a Falun Gong T-shirt as he was eating at a picnic bench. The Chinese Embassy was a festival “gold sponsor.”

Beijing can’t order Canada to muzzle critics. But plainly, our government prefers not to have uppity former diplomats insulting China. Local festivals prefer not to provoke the Panda either.

China is a tough challenge for Canada, no doubt. But leaning on free speech at home isn’t the way to tackle it.

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