It was recently reported that an “unprecedented US visit by all 13 Canadian premiers paints China as the ‘common economic enemy.'” Earlier this month, all ten provincial premiers and the three premiers of the Canadian northern territories met in Washington.
Since the US government’s tariffs against Mexico, Canada and China were announced on February 1, there have been political voices within Canada pathetically pleading with the US: “Look how much we supported you in all your wars, all your conflicts!” “Look at what great friends we are along the longest unprotected border in the world.” They have been begging for mercy, not even noting that the US-directed 100 percent tariffs on Chinese EVs did not satisfy the US.
We see how this compromise is being played out. This stance hit a new despicable low in Washington recently, as it seems the US is trying to imply that, in effect, it would give Canada a “pass on tariffs” and on bullying if it joined the American “China threat” chorus.
In addition to the “China the enemy” theme that emerged from 13 premiers meeting in Washington, an expert from the Wilson Centre, a Washington-based think tank, said given the current tensions in the bilateral relationship, he expected “greater policy alignment overall to ensue between the allies, including on China.” Well, here we have it! They let the cat out of the bag. This is what many of us have been saying since the beginning. The issue is not so much tariffs but “China containment.”
However, why do the premiers and their hand-chosen advisers pay attention to Washington’s think tank experts while ignoring Canada’s own nonpartisan scholars? Is it because many reach the opposite conclusion of the Washington establishment narrative on “friends and enemies”?
In fact, those Canadian politicians’ response in Washington was so naive while ignoring the voices of reason in Canada who see China as a friendly trading partner for the well-being of the Canadian and Chinese peoples.
For instance, Canadian state television guest Professor Arthur Silve of Québec City’s Université de Laval responded to the host’s question: Given the Chinese market for steel and aluminum, how should Canada deal with “authoritarian enemy countries”? Unexpectedly, the economics professor said he would not place the US and China on the same footing. Furthermore, he concluded that with “friends” such as the US, Canada would be better off with its “enemies.”
Similarly, the Canadian premiers in Washington DC were so awe-struck by the US experts they met that they ignored the American economist Dean Baker’s article, headlined “Canada and Mexico Under Attack: The China Solution,” which was published in a popular American outlet with a significant readership in Canada. “Canada and Mexico have to look at the one that can be a more stable partner for trade and investment relations. There can be little doubt at the moment this is China,” the article argued.
The premiers and their US advisors are also out of touch with Canadian public opinion at the grassroots level. People increasingly view China as a friend, not an enemy. Furthermore, the number of tourists from Canada to China is increasing. Thus, with four Chinese airlines and the central Canadian one, Air Canada, five companies now fly numerous daily and weekly flights between the two countries, fostering friendship.
Young Canadians, like others worldwide, are attracted to TikTok. This social media is being unfairly targeted. However, like the forbidden fruit, this attempt to censure attracts interest. Similarly, we have the new RedNote, the Chinese answer to Instagram. This is a platform to exchange with Chinese in China and make friends with a user-friendly translation, getting to know the reality of the “enemy.”
The Canadian mainstream media and politicians are desperately trying to divert popular public opinion away from anti-Americanism. This undermines discussions about complementary trade ties with countries besides the US, such as China. However, anti-Americanism is a legitimate, long-standing political trend in Canada that is recognized by some of Canada’s top historians. One such example is J. L. Granatstein. He titled his 1996 book on the controversy, Yankee Go Home?: Canadians and anti-Americanism, writing about a decline in anti-Americanism in Canada. However, the current unprecedented arrogant annexationist American pretensions against Canada seem to be proving him wrong.
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This article was originally published on Global Times.
Arnold August is a Canadian journalist and lecturer, the author of Democracy in Cuba and the 1997–98 Elections, Cuba and Its Neighbours: Democracy in Motion and Cuba–U.S. Relations: Obama and Beyond. As a journalist, he collaborates with many websites in Latin America, Europe, North America and the Middle East. He is a contributor to Orinoco Tribune. His website: www.arnoldaugust.com.
Featured image: Illustration: Liu Xiangya/GT
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