Canada Ping!
Posted on 06/02/2013 2:30:39 AM PDT by rickmichaels
OTTAWA — Defence Minister Peter MacKay will head to China Sunday after meeting with key allies in the Asia-Pacific region. But a planned meeting with his Chinese counterpart may not go smoothly.
MacKay said he expects to have "frank and open" discussions — diplomatic code for a tough chat — with Gen. Chang Wanquan over China's aggressive military moves in the South China Sea and its penchant for cyber-espionage.
The minister, who was in Singapore for an annual Asia-Pacific security summit Saturday, told QMI Agency that talks at the forum — both formal and on the sidelines — were dominated by those concerns.
Canada, keen on developing trade ties, has muted its tough talk with China in recent years.
MacKay hinted that might change.
"I've met with a number of my counterparts here in the last few days. They are quite clarion in their calls for China to respect their jurisdiction, their sovereignty rights and, in fact, some of the resource implications are of great concern," he said. "So I do intend to speak openly, speak frankly and express Canada's view."
China lays claim to almost all of the South China Sea — a key international maritime trade route and a potential source of oil and natural gas.
Six other countries in the region take issue with that claim, arguing China's actions run counter to international law.
The Asian nation is also building up its military in part to help bolster its claim.
Territorial disputes are common, and China is now embroiled in tensions with Vietnam and the Philippines.
A new Pentagon report also points to China as an international cyberspy that has stolen military secrets — including on the F-35 joint strike fighter jet program — from the Americans and its partner nations.
Canada isn't immune direct attacks from to China's hackers, either. Both the government and industry have been hit with a series of attacks in recent years that point to the Chinese, including a massive breach of Finance Canada and Treasury Board systems in 2011.
"It's an issue for Canada," MacKay said. "Security systems, communications systems, critical infrastructure are vulnerable."
Beyond shoring up Canada's own cybersecurity, he will be "encouraging China to be more adherent to the regulations we feel are necessary to govern and protect our own systems."
"I believe there is much to be gained by having a more robust and honest, open relationship with China, and that includes confronting them on issues of concern," he said.
We're sending the right man for the job. Mackay will do what he says he will do.
You won’t get anywhere with Communist Chinese unless you open discussions with “all tariffs on Communist Chinese products are now 30%”....they will talk then
Or we can continue to listen to the Free Trade Communists who bootlick the Communist Chinese on every trade issue....and sabotage world and national security
Next in line to have tough talks with China are Monaco, San Marino, and Liechtenstein.
All will be warning China that strict and swift measures will follow if China does not tone down its militarism.
We are in a position to have some influence, though, because of our exports to China. They’re eager to get the oil that Obama doesn’t want.
Canada Ping!
Very true.
At least McKay is doing something positive for Canada and her allies, instead of being an Arab suckup.
That will frighten China to no end.
:p
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