I have the highest regard for Harper’s brave and principled foreign policy. Starting with his outspoken response to the attacks on Israel out of southern Lebanon, and his previous refusals to butter up to China the way his Liberal predecessors, at Maurice Strong’s urging (see also, this and this and, better yet, this), always seemed to enjoy.
The West should be very wary of trading with China to the extent that it presently is, be it a tyrannical and morally bankrupt regime, although some significant trade is necessary to leverage our moral authority and hope to influence them in the long term. As a point of national interest, India is a much more logical strategic ally than China, although China has certainly helped reigned in the North Koreans.
In the mean time, those Liberal trade missions to China should not have been in vain. It’s nice to see Harper, rather than more trade missions, cashing in on Canada’s moral leverage to prod Chinese leaders along.
Now, if only he can say something about Darfur and China’s less than agreeable complicity. See here as well.
Ryan wrote:
Good post George.
Posted on 19-Sep-07 at 8:35 am | Permalink
Smarter than Ezra wrote:
Finally, something worth reading George, thank you.
Posted on 19-Sep-07 at 8:52 am | Permalink
watchingyou_22 wrote:
Hmmm….I had thought that I heard spin-fool Sandy Buckler speaking of the great influence our little PM had in bringing CHina (and Russia) onside for the vacuous and inconsequential “aspirational target” approach to C02 emissions in Australia?
It couldn’t be that a) Harper has no influence with major foreign leaders and is seen as a lightweight or b) he is playing domestic partisan politics on the international stage at the expense of our country’s national interest.
It is truly embarrassing to watch.
Posted on 19-Sep-07 at 9:29 am | Permalink