China’s atrocities deserve Ukrainian-style outrage

This past April, we marked the 105th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, during which Canadians from coast to coast, regardless of ethnicity, fought side by side.

This battle contributed to our sense of unity as a country, ultimately bolstering our fundamental values as a democracy committed to peace and freedom.

Unfortunately, more than a century later, war is still with us, as we mourn for Ukraine and witness the atrocities Russia is committing there.

Thankfully, the international community had stood together, regardless of other differences, in this tumultuous time. The Ukraine war is one remarkable example of international solidarity in the face of crimes against humanity.

The invasion of Ukraine has resulted in thousands of deaths and casualties. In response, the international community imposed sanctions, removing Russian banks from the SWIFT payment system, and penalizing members of the Russian elite; FIFA and UEFA banned Russian teams from competing in all their events; the International Criminal Court has begun to investigate atrocities; many major commercial brands have ceased their operations in Russia.

In Canada, communities joined together in making donations, providing humanitarian aid, and also new homes, since millions of Ukrainians had to flee for their lives. Canada also sent humanitarian aid, military personnel to Eastern Europe to train the Ukrainian army, and weapons. It also created a new pathway for Ukrainians to seek asylum here. Needless to say, the bravery of Ukrainians fighting against their invaders has touched us all.

The reaction to events in Ukraine has been nothing short of spectacular — an admirable example of choosing the moral high ground at the expense of monetary gains when confronted with atrocities.

The question is: if we can all stand up for Ukraine, can we also do something similar about atrocities elsewhere in the world?

Why did Canada not do the same when it came to China’s concentration camps, genocide against the Uyghurs and human rights violations in Hong Kong?

There are no sanctions against China; the International Criminal Court has declined to investigate reports of genocide there; business continued as usual, with the Winter Olympics going ahead in Beijing, apart from a diplomatic boycott.

Furthermore, the two existing pathways to Canadian permanent residence for Hong Kongers remain selective, expensive, slow, and inaccessible for many who’d like to flee from persecution.

As members of a Halifax Hong Konger advocacy group, we feel sorrow and pain for the Ukrainians and we admire their bravery. We will continue to stand with Ukraine and work with the Ukrainian Canadian Congress – Nova Scotia Branch and to use our platform to spread awareness in the Maritimes.

We see many similarities between the 2014 Revolution of Dignity in Maidan and our own protest in Hong Kong in 2019. To the best of our abilities, we are both standing up to formidable oppressors.

The Atlantic Ukrainian Association is looking for humanitarian aid and donations for Ukraine. We ask you to please consider supporting them in this difficult hour.

That being said, Canada should at least reflect upon its tactics and response to events in Hong Kong, China, Myanmar and Yemen.