AGI Lecture - Paul Evans - Hard Circumstances, Hard Choices: Canada and China 2019

The arrest of the Huawei CFO in December last year set in train a series of actions that have roiled Canada-China relations and placed them in the most difficult position since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1970. Public attitudes and media coverage in both countries have been strongly negative with no easy off-ramps in sight. A recent speech by the Canadian leader of the opposition in Parliament makes clear that China is going to be a major issue in the October federal election. The government’s looming decision on Huawei's participation in Canada's 5G rollout is just one of the several issues that confront Ottawa, which is caught in the middle of the U.S.-China geo-political trade and techno-nationalist crossfire.

At this lecture, Paul Evans of the University of British Columbia, will assess the state of Canada-China relations and consider the context for the dispute and the outlook for a resolution. Key questions he will address: What options does Canada have and what does this situation mean for other countries facing choices they would prefer not to make? Is this just a nasty diplomatic storm – or an indication of strategic climate change?