Exiled Tibetan leader warns Canada about China
Trade deal could lead to self-censorship of rights abuses, he says
OTTAWA — During a visit to Ottawa this week, Tibet’s exiled political leader warned Canada not to fall into a trap as its trade relationship with China deepens.
It makes economic sense to engage with China, especially amid recent uncertainty with Canada’s biggest trade partner, the United States, said Lobsang Sangay, president of the Central Tibetan Administration, a “government in exile” based in India that represents Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.
But Canada should be careful not to self-censor or turn a blind eye to human rights abuses by the Chinese government, he said in an interview with the National Post.
“You do business with China. You have to have a relationship with China. You can’t avoid it, you can’t ignore it and you should make money,” Sangay said. “But what I’ve noticed is the moment there’s a trade agreement with China, all of a sudden these countries start resorting to self-censorship. First Tibet, then Tiananmen, then Taiwan and all of the environmental and labour issues and women’s rights issues in China.”
Under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Canada has been inching closer to establishing free trade negotiations with China’s authoritarian government. But Trudeau’s “progressive” approach to trade is a non-starter with a government whose officials consider labour and gender issues to be “non-trade” concerns.
China’s officials typically point to the emergence of a huge middle class and the increase in economic prosperity as a sign that China is catching up to the rest of the world, and that the human rights, labour and gender equality situation will also improve with time.
China has also tried in recent years to become an environmental leader, and is cited by Canada’s European allies as now a more trusted partner on such issues than the U.S. And proponents of free trade say that agreements could help push China to improve its record.
But the Tibetan leader said he worries that Western nations are too quick to take China at its word, or worry about offending the Chinese government. Sangay said emerging concerns should get more notice from Western governments. He explained that he wants Canada to advocate for a “middle way” approach: giving true autonomy to the region, but without challenging the national sovereignty of China with aspirations of independence. He likened this to provinces operating within Canada.
Parliamentary committees have heard testimony from delegations out of the Tibet Autonomous Region itself, governed by China.
During a hearing last month, representatives said the “middle way” is not viable because they believe the Dalai Lama is seeking sovereign independence.
The Dalai Lama is an honorary Canadian citizen. A delegation representing him comes to Ottawa annually.
During Sangay’s visit he testified to committees at the House of Commons and Senate. Sangay said he hopes the Canadian government can help encourage the Chinese government to establish diplomatic talks with the exiled officials in India.
He suggested Canada, which China views as a “neutral” actor, could play some kind of “karmic” role again.