For many, Canada’s extensive binding ties with the United States have been cause for concern for a long time. The U.S. is our largest trading partner and closest ally by leaps and bounds. In the wake of the 2008 financial crisis and the ongoing economic uncertainty south of the border, it is high time that Canada reaches out to make new friends - more specifically China and India.
These so-called emerging economies have received world-wide attention because of their economic growth rates and large populations (read: potential markets). However, as Canadians, we do these countries an injustice to look at them as just emerging economies. These are diverse millennial civilizations with rich histories and culture. This fact cannot be ignored when approaching them to build a closer relationship.
While I am in full support of Canada expanding its horizons, I have reservations as to how we are going about it. Canada is undeniably a middle power. Albeit a middle power that regularly punches above its weight, Canada remains a middle power all the same. It needs to be strategic in how it deploys the resources at its disposal to receive the greatest possible return. Canada cannot afford to do otherwise.
The equal dual focus on both China and India is therefore in need of greater scrutiny. The Federal Government is in danger of privileging economics over all else. Such a singular focus risks sacrificing Canadian values while chasing economic growth.
The de-prioritization of Canadian values such as democracy, diversity, and human rights would be damaging to our country’s reputation at the very least and has the potential to add momentum to negative trends in the international community as well. We would do ourselves and the world a disservice by shelving who we are to be GDP junkies.
The China that Canada is currently pursuing a closer relationship with is weak in the areas of democracy, diversity, or human rights. Being a historically self-sufficient and inward-looking civilization, China is unlikely to change at Canada’s request. With regard to democracy, its political system, dominated by the Chinese Communist Party with no substantial opposition will remain. China also performs poorly on Transparency International indicators such as: corruption, rule of law, press freedom, and judicial independence. In terms of multiculturalism and human rights, China’s treatment of its Uyghur minority is abominable. Moreover, the human rights issues that plague Tibet seem unending.
Canada is simply not in a position to have an impact on these realities. This begs the question of whether or not Canada should be aligning itself closely with a country, distinguished as it may be, whose operation is so contrary to our own.
I am not saying that Canada should not engage with China. That would be a missed opportunity. However, Canada must be strategic and approach the dragon from a position of strength.
Enter India.
In the early sixties, John F. Kennedy nurtured a relationship with India not only because of its own merits, but also in order to have a reliable friend and counterweight in Asia who could be helpful in dealing with China. The United States and India went on to have a productive partnership in dealing with crises in both the Congo and Laos. Canada could learn from this experience.
India and Canada have a long history of bilateral relations and the two countries have all the necessary material for an enduring, strong, and productive future together. India is not only one of the world’s largest democracies, it is also one of the world’s most robust. Opposition and political freedom are alive and well in India. Like Canada, it is a parliamentary system. Although not without struggle, India binds together a great diversity of languages and cultures. And while it is not always successful, India also makes an active effort to improve the respect for human rights of its varied peoples. Beyond these areas where Canada and India have greater commonality compared to Canada and China, there is an additional bond, the Commonwealth. Both Canada and India are important members of the Commonwealth. Far from disappearing into irrelevancy, the Commonwealth is ripe for revival. These two countries are well-situated to be at the centre of it.
What does this mean for Canada’s engagement with these two Asian giants?
By drawing upon its common ground with India, Canada could foster a bilateral relationship with India that is enduring, strong, and productive. This will take time and resources. Right now, resources need to be allocated with great care, and I believe that they are best directed toward a closer relationship with India. When that has matured, Canada will have an ally and friend in the region that it can partner with to engage China on a much more sound and authoritative footing. There is no question that Canada must engage with both China and India to secure its future, but it must be careful to do so strategically for the good of everyone involved.
Aziza Mohammed is a graduate of the Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy program of the Fletcher School at Tufts University. Aziza’s award-winning research on John F. Kennedy’s relationship with India has been supported by the John F.Kennedy Library Foundation and the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation.
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Dragons, Tigers, and Beavers: Canada and the Wild, Wild East
January 24, 2013
For many, Canada’s extensive binding ties with the United States have been cause for concern for a long time. The U.S. is our largest trading partner and closest ally by leaps and bounds. In the wake of the 2008 financial crisis and the ongoing economic uncertainty south of the border, it is high time that Canada reaches out to make new friends - more specifically China and India.
These so-called emerging economies have received world-wide attention because of their economic growth rates and large populations (read: potential markets). However, as Canadians, we do these countries an injustice to look at them as just emerging economies. These are diverse millennial civilizations with rich histories and culture. This fact cannot be ignored when approaching them to build a closer relationship.
While I am in full support of Canada expanding its horizons, I have reservations as to how we are going about it. Canada is undeniably a middle power. Albeit a middle power that regularly punches above its weight, Canada remains a middle power all the same. It needs to be strategic in how it deploys the resources at its disposal to receive the greatest possible return. Canada cannot afford to do otherwise.
The equal dual focus on both China and India is therefore in need of greater scrutiny. The Federal Government is in danger of privileging economics over all else. Such a singular focus risks sacrificing Canadian values while chasing economic growth.
The de-prioritization of Canadian values such as democracy, diversity, and human rights would be damaging to our country’s reputation at the very least and has the potential to add momentum to negative trends in the international community as well. We would do ourselves and the world a disservice by shelving who we are to be GDP junkies.
The China that Canada is currently pursuing a closer relationship with is weak in the areas of democracy, diversity, or human rights. Being a historically self-sufficient and inward-looking civilization, China is unlikely to change at Canada’s request. With regard to democracy, its political system, dominated by the Chinese Communist Party with no substantial opposition will remain. China also performs poorly on Transparency International indicators such as: corruption, rule of law, press freedom, and judicial independence. In terms of multiculturalism and human rights, China’s treatment of its Uyghur minority is abominable. Moreover, the human rights issues that plague Tibet seem unending.
Canada is simply not in a position to have an impact on these realities. This begs the question of whether or not Canada should be aligning itself closely with a country, distinguished as it may be, whose operation is so contrary to our own.
I am not saying that Canada should not engage with China. That would be a missed opportunity. However, Canada must be strategic and approach the dragon from a position of strength.
Enter India.
In the early sixties, John F. Kennedy nurtured a relationship with India not only because of its own merits, but also in order to have a reliable friend and counterweight in Asia who could be helpful in dealing with China. The United States and India went on to have a productive partnership in dealing with crises in both the Congo and Laos. Canada could learn from this experience.
India and Canada have a long history of bilateral relations and the two countries have all the necessary material for an enduring, strong, and productive future together. India is not only one of the world’s largest democracies, it is also one of the world’s most robust. Opposition and political freedom are alive and well in India. Like Canada, it is a parliamentary system. Although not without struggle, India binds together a great diversity of languages and cultures. And while it is not always successful, India also makes an active effort to improve the respect for human rights of its varied peoples. Beyond these areas where Canada and India have greater commonality compared to Canada and China, there is an additional bond, the Commonwealth. Both Canada and India are important members of the Commonwealth. Far from disappearing into irrelevancy, the Commonwealth is ripe for revival. These two countries are well-situated to be at the centre of it.
What does this mean for Canada’s engagement with these two Asian giants?
By drawing upon its common ground with India, Canada could foster a bilateral relationship with India that is enduring, strong, and productive. This will take time and resources. Right now, resources need to be allocated with great care, and I believe that they are best directed toward a closer relationship with India. When that has matured, Canada will have an ally and friend in the region that it can partner with to engage China on a much more sound and authoritative footing. There is no question that Canada must engage with both China and India to secure its future, but it must be careful to do so strategically for the good of everyone involved.
Aziza Mohammed is a graduate of the Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy program of the Fletcher School at Tufts University. Aziza’s award-winning research on John F. Kennedy’s relationship with India has been supported by the John F.Kennedy Library Foundation and the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation.
