The CBC previous released an article indicating that we should look at China's relationship with Australia to see the potential future of trade alliances. Australia has been doing large scale trade and business with China for the last 6 years, and has flourished from it's relationship with Beijing.
Or has it?
Bob Carr, minister of foreign affairs in Australia has certainly boosted relations with China. Heck, they want to start military to military cooperation with China. The Australian economy has flourished.
The arguments to do business with China continue. Seeing as most of the business coming from China is state (government) owned, we would be literally doing business with the Chinese government. The argument here is that in overseas investment, these businesses don't focus on politics, they focus on capital. So, in reality, it would just be another business deal.
Now the reality.
1) Last week, the Chinese government made a speech in Australia, saying business ties had been robust. They just had one little complaint; those pesky laws. Chinese companies were having difficulties understanding the Australian laws for building infrastructure and trade and felt they were losing money due to these. They said this would have to change in order to continue their relationship with Australia. In other words: make the Chinese above the law or we're taking back the carrot we've been dangling in front of you and allowed you to nibble on.
2) The second case of a Chinese Australian being arrested in China with no support from the Australian government. Dr. Du, who has invented powdered blood plasma, had his company fraudulently stolen from him by his partner, someone who was thought to have been in jail. His partner turned out to be the ex-leader of the PLA Air Force and a known smuggler, caught by the Chinese authorities in 1999 and sentenced to prison for stealing billions of dollars. Somehow he became Dr. Du's partner (under a new identity), sold and stole Dr. Du's portion of the multi million dollar business, and left poor Dr. Du with nothing. But the doctor had a plan. He had something in China that was to insure he received his share. Unfortunately, this ex-leader of the air force paid off the Chinese government to arrest the doctor, have a completely unfair trial, and the doctor has not been seen of since. But he's an Australian citizen. Shouldn't he be protected? Apparently someone from the foreign relations ministry in Australia advised the doctor's family that going to the media was a big big no no. Since that time, this individual has done absolutely nothing to help the doctor. This individual is Bob Carr, the one who loves doing business with China.
3. The Chinese businesses in Africa have been doing business with have been in trouble for both corruption and abusing their workers (to the point of riots).
Is this REALLY the road we want to go down in Canada? They will give us money and give us money until we are dependent on them, then start making their demands. I've been hoping China's government and society (don't just look at the government as corrupt, I've lived in China, it's a huge portion of the average everyday society) would adopt more of our values. I never dreamed that Canada would be threatened by the (lack of) values in China.
We cannot use trade deals to influence China. It won't work. They're too big. However, that is exactly what they intend to do to us. Wait for it.
Quick gain, long term pain is an understatement. Doing business with China has the potential to damage Canada. To what end? I don't know, I don't even want to think about it.
jeff - 12 years ago
If you knew that your neighbor is a child molester, would you go to his place for a BBQ? I guess not. When you are aware of the fact that the brutal Chinese Communist Party has murdered 8o million of its own people since 1949 and is now attempting the genocide of tens of millions of innocent Falun Gong practitioners by the use of torture, slavery, organ harvesting and murder, do you trade with them? I hope not. The greatest crime of all is the crime against conscience.
The question is cowardly because the elephant in the "question room"is China and whether we continue trading with China without reciprosity,fairly valued currency and fairly paid workers.How about adding another option?
I do (btw)support some smaller developing economies,but I'd like to support Canadian companies which repatriate jobs.
The CBC previous released an article indicating that we should look at China's relationship with Australia to see the potential future of trade alliances. Australia has been doing large scale trade and business with China for the last 6 years, and has flourished from it's relationship with Beijing.
Or has it?
Bob Carr, minister of foreign affairs in Australia has certainly boosted relations with China. Heck, they want to start military to military cooperation with China. The Australian economy has flourished.
The arguments to do business with China continue. Seeing as most of the business coming from China is state (government) owned, we would be literally doing business with the Chinese government. The argument here is that in overseas investment, these businesses don't focus on politics, they focus on capital. So, in reality, it would just be another business deal.
Now the reality.
1) Last week, the Chinese government made a speech in Australia, saying business ties had been robust. They just had one little complaint; those pesky laws. Chinese companies were having difficulties understanding the Australian laws for building infrastructure and trade and felt they were losing money due to these. They said this would have to change in order to continue their relationship with Australia. In other words: make the Chinese above the law or we're taking back the carrot we've been dangling in front of you and allowed you to nibble on.
2) The second case of a Chinese Australian being arrested in China with no support from the Australian government. Dr. Du, who has invented powdered blood plasma, had his company fraudulently stolen from him by his partner, someone who was thought to have been in jail. His partner turned out to be the ex-leader of the PLA Air Force and a known smuggler, caught by the Chinese authorities in 1999 and sentenced to prison for stealing billions of dollars. Somehow he became Dr. Du's partner (under a new identity), sold and stole Dr. Du's portion of the multi million dollar business, and left poor Dr. Du with nothing. But the doctor had a plan. He had something in China that was to insure he received his share. Unfortunately, this ex-leader of the air force paid off the Chinese government to arrest the doctor, have a completely unfair trial, and the doctor has not been seen of since. But he's an Australian citizen. Shouldn't he be protected? Apparently someone from the foreign relations ministry in Australia advised the doctor's family that going to the media was a big big no no. Since that time, this individual has done absolutely nothing to help the doctor. This individual is Bob Carr, the one who loves doing business with China.
3. The Chinese businesses in Africa have been doing business with have been in trouble for both corruption and abusing their workers (to the point of riots).
Is this REALLY the road we want to go down in Canada? They will give us money and give us money until we are dependent on them, then start making their demands. I've been hoping China's government and society (don't just look at the government as corrupt, I've lived in China, it's a huge portion of the average everyday society) would adopt more of our values. I never dreamed that Canada would be threatened by the (lack of) values in China.
We cannot use trade deals to influence China. It won't work. They're too big. However, that is exactly what they intend to do to us. Wait for it.
Quick gain, long term pain is an understatement. Doing business with China has the potential to damage Canada. To what end? I don't know, I don't even want to think about it.
If you knew that your neighbor is a child molester, would you go to his place for a BBQ? I guess not. When you are aware of the fact that the brutal Chinese Communist Party has murdered 8o million of its own people since 1949 and is now attempting the genocide of tens of millions of innocent Falun Gong practitioners by the use of torture, slavery, organ harvesting and murder, do you trade with them? I hope not. The greatest crime of all is the crime against conscience.
The question is cowardly because the elephant in the "question room"is China and whether we continue trading with China without reciprosity,fairly valued currency and fairly paid workers.How about adding another option?
I do (btw)support some smaller developing economies,but I'd like to support Canadian companies which repatriate jobs.