OTTAWA -- In imposing recent sanctions against two superpowers in China and Russia, Foreign Affairs Minister Marc Garneau says Canada was sending a direct message to the world: bullies can change, but only when they鈥檙e told to.
鈥淚鈥檝e known bullies in my life, but I also know bullies can change, but they will only change if you pass the message to them that they have to change,鈥� said Garneau during an interview on CTV鈥檚 Question Period airing Sunday.
鈥淭his is the message that we are carrying, along with our allies, that if China wants to operate on the world stage, which is fine, they must operate under international rules and the rule of law.鈥�
Canada joined the U.S., EU, and U.K. in levying sanctions against Chinese state officials last Monday for their treatment of minority Muslims in the country. Days later, Canada did the same to nine Russian officials citing human rights abuses, including the attempted assassination and jailing of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
The sanctions against China came the same day Canadian Michael Kovrig faced trial at a Beijing courthouse for charges of alleged spying. It ended the same way fellow detainee Michael Spavor鈥檚 trial concluded days prior, with no verdict. The two men were detained on Dec. 10, 2018, days following the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver on a U.S. extradition request.
On China specifically, Garneau said the country 鈥渏ust can鈥檛 do whatever it wants and expect to have things done its way through coercive diplomacy.鈥�
Asked whether Canada should express its position through stronger actions, like blocking Huawei from Canada鈥檚 5G rollout and pulling out of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Garneau said those conversations are ongoing.
鈥淲e will make decisions in our own good time and when we feel it is necessary but we are reviewing our relationship with China, make no mistake about it because China has changed in the past five years,鈥� he said.
In an interview on this week鈥檚 episode of 麻豆传媒鈥� Trend Line podcast, former Canadian ambassador and representative to the United Nations Paul Heinbecker said the federal government鈥檚 adoption of a firmer tone is necessary.
Though he cautioned that Canada has to be careful given the situation with Kovrig and Spavor, 鈥渨e're not in a position to sort of dictate terms to the Chinese.鈥�
鈥淚t's a very difficult balance that they're trying to strike between being self-respecting on the one hand, not being pushed around, and not creating a situation in which makes circumstances even worse,鈥� he said.
Heinbecker鈥檚 view is that China is 鈥渟tarting to play rogue.鈥�
鈥淭here was a view that the more we allowed the Chinese into the international trading system especially, and the other international organizations, the more they would become like us. Well, it turns out that we were wrong. They've gone their own way,鈥� he said.
Garneau said he鈥檚 uncertain what retaliation Canada will face, if any, following the sanctions.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 know what their response will be but it鈥檚 important to know that we are a country that has principles and values and operates by the rules of law and sometimes we have to speak up and that鈥檚 what we鈥檝e done,鈥� he said.
Last Tuesday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying highlighted Canada鈥檚 own history of injustices, namely as it relates to the residential school system.
"We urge them not to underestimate Chinese people's firm determination to defend national interests and dignity. It's a courtesy to reciprocate what we receive," Hua said during a press briefing in Beijing, according to a transcript. "They will have to pay a price for their ignorance and arrogance."
With files from 麻豆传媒' Rachel Aiello and a file from The Canadian Press.
