The stakes are too critical; the dangers are obvious; and China’s dictators have openly, although dim-wittingly, put the lie to any suggestion China’s corporations operate independently from government.
Canada … and indeed the entire Western world … should be thankful for the brazen bullying, blackmail efforts by China directed against Canada with increasing fury in the Meng Wanzhou Huawei case.
It shows exactly why we MUST protect ourselves against vulnerabilities that would befall us if the Chinese telecommunications giant were given ANY role in developing our high tech advanced 5-G system.
China has exposed itself for exactly what it is … a dangerous foe … not a trustworthy partner or international law-abiding nation.
It all stems, of course, from an extradition request by the United States regarding Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou, when she arrived in Canada on a flight from China last December.
The US accuses Meng of fraud involving activities with several financial institutions in breach of American bans on business dealings with Iran.
Canada has an extradition treaty with the US governing such requests; Canada has a Court system that is currently allowing Meng to challenge the US move; and, under Canada’s jurisprudence system, no government … or politicians … should be allowed to interfere in that Court process.
If China has a beef with the anyone over this , it should be with Ms. Meng and/or the United States … not Canada … which is merely caught in between because Ms. Meng flew here, coming within range of Uncle Sam’s legal arsenal..
But China’s leaders are having a tantrum.
Two Canadian businessmen were arrested almost simultaneously in two separate trumped up charges of “espionage” while in China; another Canadian, convicted months ago on drug charges, suddenly had his prison sentence “reconsidered” and changed … to the DEATH PENALTY; China then blocked imports of Canadian canola; banned products from two Canadian pork plants; and, now, has also started harassing imports of Canadian beef.
All over the arrest of ONE Chinese business executive … under a long-established, legal international Treaty and Court process.
So much for all the smiling faces of China’s officials pledging eternal friendship with Canada for being the first Western nation to establish diplomatic relations and whose leader was first to respect/visit its Communist regime; so much for all those toasts and pledges of co-operation and partnership, in return for our increasing Chinese access to our consumers, our agriculture and our resources.
Apparently all that “friendship” ONLY applies if China is exempted from our laws under existing international treaties; if influential Chinese citizens are never charged with breaking any laws; and if China can usurp and dictate and bully Canada, when we merely comply with a legal application from another country.
If China reacts openly and publicly with such extreme, vindictive, arbitrary, blackmailing actions in a case like Meng’s, does anyone have ANY DOUBT China’s leaders wouldn’t hesitate to interfere behind the scenes with Huawei’s (or any other Chinese company’s) technological independence to gain access to 5-G development in Canada … and other Western countries
I just don’t believe ANY communications developers in China would have the backbone to stand up to Chinese government, military and state security officials to stop interference/infiltration/intelligence gathering efforts. They could end up in China’s corrupt Courts on charges too … facing long prison sentences or even a bullet in the head.
Remember, China is a country where millions are imprisoned right now for just trying to express free thought; for trying to live their lives according to their own religious beliefs or even cultures; where THOUSANDS of prisoners were executed last year alone … many of whom reportedly then had their organs harvested, without any prior voluntary consent, and sold for profit.
Where communications/Internet have long been under sustained attack, censorship, and controls; where Google, Facebook and even LinkedIn are BANNED … blocked by the Great Chinese Firewall; and, where just this weekend, The Washington Post and The UK Guardian were added to the list of BANNED/BLOCKED sites.
The truth is China is getting WORSE, not better, in terms of human rights, especially since Xi Jin Ping became “President for Life”.
Is there ANYONE who believes that any Chinese communications company allowed an integral role in developing our 5-G system, would resist and stop China’s government and/or security forces from interfering, impacting or implanting its own hidden technology/monitoring/controls????
Eventually, the current crisis between Canada and China will subside; trade in goods, agriculture, resources, tourism and other services will slowly return to normal.
That will be good for both nations.
But NEVER should we … or any other democratic country … allow China ANY role in developing our 5-G telecommunications/networks/technology.
The risk is simply too high.
Harv Oberfeld