In 2013, just after he was elected PLC chairman, Justin Trudeau gave a speech in Toronto to about 100 women who had paid $250 to attend a fundraiser.
• Also read: 5 things to do to counter Chinese interference
• Also read: China intentionally interfered in the 2021 election, secret documents say
Although naturally seductive, we assume this time he was caught by a question from one of the participants. What country besides Canada does he admire, she asked? “I have a certain admiration for China because their dictatorial regime allows them to transform their economy on the fly,” he replied spontaneously.
As Justin likes to joke, he added, “Sun News can now say that I prefer China.” The son had already read the 1960 book, Deux Innocents en Chine Rouge, written by his father and his good friend, the publisher Jacques Hébert, who would later become a senator under Pierre Elliott Trudeau.
Like many Western intellectuals, the two accomplices were fascinated by China at the time. They were very officially invited by Mao Zedong to visit the country. As one reads, one understands that the two “innocents” gaze admiringly at this thousand-year-old civilization and cannot help but be complacent in their analysis of the regime.
Exception
In 1970, former Prime Minister Trudeau made an extraordinary historic gesture by recognizing Mao’s communist China as the government, which explains China’s recognition of Canada at the time. After Mao’s revolution in 1949, Western countries continued to recognize Taiwan, to which Mao’s defeated nationalist opponent Chiang Kai-Shek had fled.
Yes, China is a family affair for the Trudeaus. Alexandre, Justin’s brother, will return to China for two months in 2006, following in his father’s footsteps. In 2007 he republished his father’s book with a new introduction and epilogue and proved to be an almost unconditional admirer of the communist regime. What distinguishes him from his brother Justin fascinates of course, admires of course, but henceforth forced to play it safe. And for a good reason.
We must not forget that China held two Canadians, a diplomat and a businessman, hostage for more than 1,000 days in retaliation for the arrest of Huawei’s finance director in Vancouver in response to an American extradition request. Canada only secured her release by allowing the Chinese businesswoman to return to China in 2021. China has shown that its recognition of Canada has limits when its interests are at stake.
interference
We now know that China interfered in our 2019 federal election to keep the Liberals in power. This speaks volumes about the effectiveness of Chinese spies in Canada in their attempts to manipulate our leaders.
Recall the blatant rudeness of President Xi Jinping in challenging Justin Trudeau at the G20 last November. He berated him as if he were talking to a child and, in words untranslated by the interpreter, warned him that the prime minister’s lack of respect for him could have repercussions for Canada.
This week we learned that Chinese buoys found in the Canadian Arctic have been used to spy on American nuclear submarines. China is not our friend.
