President Trump is failing Canada on the issue of China. Canada is boldly supporting the United States in challenging Chinese aggression, yet receiving only token U.S. support in face of Chinese retaliation.
Responding to Canada’s ongoing and legally warranted detention of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou on U.S. extradition charges, China has illegally detained two Canadians, and is actively targeting Canadian export markets. In response, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has pushed President Trump to make clear to Chinese president Xi Jinping that the U.S. expects its allies to be treated fairly.
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Trump has less than energetic in that effort, and the Chinese recognize it.
On Wednesday, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman arrogantly declared that Canada “should not naively believe that mustering so-called allies to put pressure on China will have any effect. China is a law-abiding country. China’s judiciary handles cases independently according to the law. China’s judicial sovereignty cannot be interfered with.” The spokesman then immediately made clear that the detentions have nothing do with law and everything to do with politics.
“Canada knows exactly what the crux of the problem is,” he continued, “We hope Canada can quickly enact measures to put China-Canada relations back on track as soon as possible.”
This is an implicit pledge that if Canada releases Meng Wanzhou, the Chinese will release their Canadian detainees and will resume importing Canadian goods.
The Trump administration must not stand for it. Having gifted Xi a win by suspending new U.S. tariffs, Trump should now clarify that the U.S. will escalate against Beijing if it does not treat U.S. allies with more respect. That’s the right thing to do. But it will also serve far broader U.S. interests by making clear to other allies and prospective new allies that it’s better to be an American friend than a Chinese puppet. We’re in the struggle for international order in the 21st century. We need to incentivize and defend other nations in companionship with us.
Canada deserves not simply America’s stated support, but our solidarity in action.
