This would put Canada on a clear course for all to see.
Perhaps another clear policy on the absolute right of Israel to live with freedom from attacks from any group or country, just as every other country. 🇨🇦 🇮🇱
Thanks for sharing this view. I have also been screaming, with growing alarm, to anyone who will listen to me, about Taiwan’s precarious situation and Canada’s insufficient advocacy for the way’s Taiwan could demonstrate its sovereignty, for almost a decade.
Canada occupies a unique position in the politics of international law, because it never recognized, much less endorsed, the One China policy that seeks to extinguish a distinct Taiwanese existence, but merely “noted” the PRC position when Taiwan lost its seat in the UN General Assembly under UNSC Res. 2758.
My question to Irfan is: what about the CPTPP? The “Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Tran-Pacific Partnership”?
When Trump took the Oval Office in 2017, the next-generation trade deal that was to solidify the most palpable expression of multilateralism there is - commerce, fell out of the realm of the possible. The US dropped out. It was replaced by a new initiative - the CPTPP. Same deal. Same language. Same hope to strengthen the sinews of peace by binding Asian and other countries together through trade. Absent from the table was the US.
The criteria for eligibility for CPTPP accession was made high - it was to be a “new” kind of trade deal, protecting wages, environment etc. Canada, the UK, Australia, and Japan advanced it.
But when an obvious candidate for accession Taiwan readied its application in September 2021, PRC jumped in front - PRC, with no serious chance of meeting the tough admission standards , applied one week before Taiwan’s application was received. This “timing problem” is has been claimed, made for a tricky situation for Western countries who fear pissing off PRC more than they are willing to be brave and do the right thing by admitting Taiwan.
To my knowledge (and I could be wrong and I have not looked recently) that is where it still stands. Neither Taiwan, with its mostly compliant application, nor, PRC, with its tactical shenanigans to thwart Taiwan’s ambition to join the world, have been accepted into CPTPP. And so it sits (I believe).
But here’s the punch-line, and the reason Irfan’s proposal to extend a hand to Taiwan is simply hypothetical until there is a change of government in Ottawa that takes the Taiwan issue seriously. For all of 2024, the chair of the CPTPP, and country in charge of accession processes, was Canada. Nothing happened. We twiddled our diplomatic thumbs, and stared at the ceiling. We did what Canadian diplomats and pro-China Liberal governments do so well when faced with stark choices with moral components and a potential economic cost - we dithered.
I fear that Canada will never take a lead position on the question of Taiwan. If we cannot ink a trade deal that is such an obvious expression of the blessed “rules based international order” what hope is there of Canada taking a stern position in Irfan’s multilateral fora, contra China and pro-Taiwan? Both would inevitably stir consequences. We could not act when we actually held the levers of decision under CPTPP - what hope for more complicated undertakings to protect Taiwan?
I couldn't agree more with Terry's support of Taiwan but colour me skeptical. Given the complex web of CCP infiltration in Canada and their insidious corruption of our institutions, strong support for Taiwan seems so unlikely.
Concur totally on being supportive of Taiwan. What it means in actuality is that our defences also have to be oriented to more than just the Atlantic and Arctic.
Terry! Westfalia? When I read the stranded/engine parts stuff, I thought "Oh no, it can't be the Triumph that failed him!" See! You have to depend on 2 wheels, not 4! 😁
The Canada you remember has long since failed. This country is so controlled and subservient to China that it won't even stand up for its own citizens. Any hope that Canada would stand up for Taiwan is pure delusion.
For a serious post, Terry, there's a small potential problem with "everyone need to stand by Taiwan."
At this point, most everyone has, at least on the surface, acquiesced to the RoC fiction of One China. But what happens when enough countries declare their support for ma free, independent Taiwan? There has to be a line that, once crossed, triggers the RoC to unleash the PLA to cross the straight.
Is the western world ready to support Taiwan then? Are they strong enough even if they have the cojones to try? Much as Donald foams at the mouth about China, I don't for a minute think he'd spend 10c or 3.5 minutes to oppose something like that. (No profit in it.)
It's a "nice" idea, but the Liberal government of Canada is allied with the communist government of China and has been for over fifty years. The LPC is not about to turn it's back on it's greatest ally.
A timely and worthy call for Canada to do the right thing. Other than simple fear of the Communist Party of China why would Canada not actively lobby for Taiwan's inclusion in the UN? I would like to hear from Mr. Glavin or others who have some knowledge of the issue. I can only offer uniformed speculation.
There were no hyperlinks because I composed this newsletter with one finger on a Samsung phone. Never did that before. I couldn't figure how to hyperlink on a phone, using the app. Sorry.
This would put Canada on a clear course for all to see.
Perhaps another clear policy on the absolute right of Israel to live with freedom from attacks from any group or country, just as every other country. 🇨🇦 🇮🇱
Hear! Hear! And at the very least the UN should grant Taiwan the same standing and/or representation that it gives to the PLO.
Agree strongly! However, Carney’s Eurasia Group string-pullers are unlikely to be onboard with it.
Thanks for sharing this view. I have also been screaming, with growing alarm, to anyone who will listen to me, about Taiwan’s precarious situation and Canada’s insufficient advocacy for the way’s Taiwan could demonstrate its sovereignty, for almost a decade.
Canada occupies a unique position in the politics of international law, because it never recognized, much less endorsed, the One China policy that seeks to extinguish a distinct Taiwanese existence, but merely “noted” the PRC position when Taiwan lost its seat in the UN General Assembly under UNSC Res. 2758.
My question to Irfan is: what about the CPTPP? The “Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Tran-Pacific Partnership”?
When Trump took the Oval Office in 2017, the next-generation trade deal that was to solidify the most palpable expression of multilateralism there is - commerce, fell out of the realm of the possible. The US dropped out. It was replaced by a new initiative - the CPTPP. Same deal. Same language. Same hope to strengthen the sinews of peace by binding Asian and other countries together through trade. Absent from the table was the US.
The criteria for eligibility for CPTPP accession was made high - it was to be a “new” kind of trade deal, protecting wages, environment etc. Canada, the UK, Australia, and Japan advanced it.
But when an obvious candidate for accession Taiwan readied its application in September 2021, PRC jumped in front - PRC, with no serious chance of meeting the tough admission standards , applied one week before Taiwan’s application was received. This “timing problem” is has been claimed, made for a tricky situation for Western countries who fear pissing off PRC more than they are willing to be brave and do the right thing by admitting Taiwan.
To my knowledge (and I could be wrong and I have not looked recently) that is where it still stands. Neither Taiwan, with its mostly compliant application, nor, PRC, with its tactical shenanigans to thwart Taiwan’s ambition to join the world, have been accepted into CPTPP. And so it sits (I believe).
But here’s the punch-line, and the reason Irfan’s proposal to extend a hand to Taiwan is simply hypothetical until there is a change of government in Ottawa that takes the Taiwan issue seriously. For all of 2024, the chair of the CPTPP, and country in charge of accession processes, was Canada. Nothing happened. We twiddled our diplomatic thumbs, and stared at the ceiling. We did what Canadian diplomats and pro-China Liberal governments do so well when faced with stark choices with moral components and a potential economic cost - we dithered.
I fear that Canada will never take a lead position on the question of Taiwan. If we cannot ink a trade deal that is such an obvious expression of the blessed “rules based international order” what hope is there of Canada taking a stern position in Irfan’s multilateral fora, contra China and pro-Taiwan? Both would inevitably stir consequences. We could not act when we actually held the levers of decision under CPTPP - what hope for more complicated undertakings to protect Taiwan?
China would threaten to break off diplomatic relations with us but perhaps we would be the big winner being the only real friend of Taiwan.
I couldn't agree more with Terry's support of Taiwan but colour me skeptical. Given the complex web of CCP infiltration in Canada and their insidious corruption of our institutions, strong support for Taiwan seems so unlikely.
Very good idea. Along with civil and treaty rights for Hong Kong. A pair of frigates and a flight of cf 18s.
Concur totally on being supportive of Taiwan. What it means in actuality is that our defences also have to be oriented to more than just the Atlantic and Arctic.
Terry! Westfalia? When I read the stranded/engine parts stuff, I thought "Oh no, it can't be the Triumph that failed him!" See! You have to depend on 2 wheels, not 4! 😁
The Canada you remember has long since failed. This country is so controlled and subservient to China that it won't even stand up for its own citizens. Any hope that Canada would stand up for Taiwan is pure delusion.
For a serious post, Terry, there's a small potential problem with "everyone need to stand by Taiwan."
At this point, most everyone has, at least on the surface, acquiesced to the RoC fiction of One China. But what happens when enough countries declare their support for ma free, independent Taiwan? There has to be a line that, once crossed, triggers the RoC to unleash the PLA to cross the straight.
Is the western world ready to support Taiwan then? Are they strong enough even if they have the cojones to try? Much as Donald foams at the mouth about China, I don't for a minute think he'd spend 10c or 3.5 minutes to oppose something like that. (No profit in it.)
It's a "nice" idea, but the Liberal government of Canada is allied with the communist government of China and has been for over fifty years. The LPC is not about to turn it's back on it's greatest ally.
A timely and worthy call for Canada to do the right thing. Other than simple fear of the Communist Party of China why would Canada not actively lobby for Taiwan's inclusion in the UN? I would like to hear from Mr. Glavin or others who have some knowledge of the issue. I can only offer uniformed speculation.
Terry, Better to have VW vintage micro bus issues in the PNW than say Arizona. Who's the better chess player? Teacher or student?
Please add hyperlinks when you mention previous articles… I did find the Aug 6 article and re-read it. It stands up well. https://open.substack.com/pub/therealstory/p/revisionist-decolonization-and-outright
There were no hyperlinks because I composed this newsletter with one finger on a Samsung phone. Never did that before. I couldn't figure how to hyperlink on a phone, using the app. Sorry.