Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Wednesday, February 08, 2012

Harper in China: PM gets red carpet treatment, touts trade advances

BEIJING—At the landmark Temple of Heaven where China’s emperors once offered sacrifices for a good harvest, Prime Minister Stephen Harper paused to watch a game of Chinese chess, but made no moves.

Hours later, Harper claimed a bountiful harvest of his own — several new or renewed trade deals plus a nearly-finalized foreign investment protection agreement with China.

At an evening news conference, Harper took credit for a “historic” deal, saying it is Canada’s first comprehensive trade agreement with China, one that eluded previous governments for nearly 20 years, and would one day make a “very practical difference” for Canadian companies seeking to invest here.

In reality, it would help small- and medium-sized businesses who can’t afford to take big risks in China without certainty around things like local laws, taxation or dispute settlement.

Giants such as Bombardier, which employs 4,000 people in China building trains, already do good business here, said CEO Pierre Beaudoin, and are not faced with the same obstacles, but he welcomed the agreement’s promise of more predictability.

At the cavernous Great Hall of the People, Harper was officially welcomed by a guard of honour and Premier Wen Jiabao—the same leader who had chided him in 2009 for taking so long.

And on his second visit, the snubs of the past — Harper’s “almighty dollar”-won’t-trump-human-rights comment, his absence from the Beijing Olymics and embrace of the Dalai Lama — were set aside.

Wen and Harper had a private meeting, with a warmer tone set at the start, and later an official dinner.

“It’s a great pleasure to see you again,” said Wen.

“I would describe our last meeting as opening a new page in our bilateral relationship,” he added.

Wen and Harper spoke briefly in front of reporters, with media escorted out just as Harper said he hoped for “wide-ranging and frank” discussions on economic development, international peace and security, and began to reference consular cases and human rights.

The meeting continued behind closed doors, where Harper said they had a “frank” and wide-ranging conversation.

Afterwards, Wen and Harper watched as their ministers signed the deals, nine in all, including on energy, natural resources, agriculture, scientific research and technology.

Harper and his Foreign Affairs Minister, John Baird, chuckled as the deal on increasing “industrial” tallow exports to China was signed. That means all the leftovers — guts or bones — that remain after beef is processed, which are melted and used in the production of fine bone China.

Taken together, the agreements signal more cooperation, but do not amount to what some Canadian executives were calling for prior to the trip: the launch of negotiations toward a free trade deal with China in an ambitious push into Asian markets.

Still, Harper touted the package as strategic, and a crucial move for the broader goal of increasing trade with China.

The Canadian government says that once implemented, the Canada-China Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (or FIPA) will provide greater protection against discriminatory and arbitrary practices. It would give investors the predictability of a market’s policy framework.

Harper said he told Wen that Canada has a very “open regime” when it comes to Chinese investment, but it is not always reciprocated. He added he told Wen of particular concerns where Canadian companies run into problems, but wouldn’t reveal which those are.

It’s known that banks and the financial services sector struggle to offer some services here such as foreign credit cards, and Canadian mining companies still face difficulties.

Harper said his “very frank” discussions with Wen included consular cases and human rights.

Senior government officials said Harper raised the case of Huseyin Celil, a Burlington man, and pressed for Canadian officials to have access to him in jail in Xinjiang province, to no apparent avail.

Harper also said he raised Canada’s concerns “in very clear and strong terms” about China’s support for Syria at the UN security council, and China’s veto of a resolution that would have called on President Bashar Assad to step down amidst a violent crackdown on political dissent in that country.

“We would hope to see in the future action from the security council on this matter, and I was pretty clear on that.”

Overall, Harper said previous governments were wrong and “weak” in their approach to China.

“There was a view when we took office that you either had to deal with the Chinese on economics or to deal with them on human rights and consular matters but you couldn’t do both and we refused to accept that view. We thought that view was driven frankly out of a weak approach to foreign policy.”

“As long as you’re frank and respectful it is, in fact, necessary to engage China as we would engage every other country on the entire range of issues.”

“I think the Chinese have gotten more comfortable with that position, and I think we are beginning to achieve things,” he said.

Already, Canadian officials say trade with China is driving Canada’s ability to withstand the global economic slowdown in sectors such as lumber exports.

But in reality, a final deal is still a long way off.

First the negotiated text must undergo legal reviews in English, French, and Mandarin.

Then it must be signed by both parties, made public, and go through each country’s ratification process. In Canada, that means 21 days of parliamentary debate and a vote to ratify.

Harper said the package is "testimony that we are taking relations to the next level and further strengthening our strategic partnership.”

Earlier in the day, Harper did some Canadian business of his own, launching a 2012 tourism campaign to draw visitors to Canada.

He conducted a business roundtable with a number of Canadian corporate executives who are part of his official delegation at the luxurious St. Regis Hotel, where the prime minister is staying, away from the Canadian media delegation following this trip.

Harper—who has regulated lobbyists’ access to his government—said he wanted to hear their views in the run-up to the 2012 budget since they were “in the job-creation business.” He met with influential executives who have accompanied him to boost Canada's prospects for diversifying trade.

The group had an intimate meeting with Harper, his international trade minister and Canada’s ambassador to China.

They included Bombardier CEO Pierre Beaudoin; Roy Cook, CEO of Monarch Industries and chairman of Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters; Shell Canada’s Lorraine Mitchelmore; Patrick Lamarre of SNC Lavalin; Air Canada’s chief operating officer Duncan Dee, Westfire Energy’s Lowell Jackson, who is chair of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers; and Amit Chakma president of Western University.

Original Article
Source: Star 
Author: Tonda MacCharles 

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