Harper's high profile politics crushes hope to save Celil behind the scene
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Marston is the MP for the riding in which Celil's family lives. He was among the first to mobilize effort to rescue Celil soon after his arrest. He had partnered up with a few diplomatic experts and were prepared to lobby the Chinese government from behind the scene.
Marston said this method had proved effective when dealing with the Chinese government. China is more willing to cooperate if the lobbying is done behind the scene, Marston told a Ming Pao reporter.
However, Harper suddenly made a high profile criticism against China, its human rights records and the Celil case before the APEC meeting last year. When Marston heard the prime minister in the media, he was stunned and knew it would be much difficult to get Celil released back to Canada.
Marston said Harper's way of handling the case blocked off any hope of communication between China and Canada.
Marston talked to the department of foreign affairs earlier and heard that they were told Celil was only sentenced to 9 years in prison. It's unexpected that the final version is a life prison term.
As a previous Globe and Mail article explains, quiet diplomacy is the way to deal with China. Recap here:
As part of their campaign of lecturing and hectoring the Chinese, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and other ministers have been pressing the Celil case, demanding Canadian consular access.The Washington Observer looks at the Celil case and the bilateral relations of China and Canada.
From China's perspective, Mr. Celil isn't a Canadian. This observation does not defend the Chinese treatment of Mr. Celil, but it does explain some of the evident confusion. The Chinese consider it a bit rich being lectured to by Canada, a convenient place for refugees from Chinese justice to land and remain.
Corruption is endemic in China. Western countries and businesses bemoan shady dealings, shakedowns, copyright violations, lack of property rights and payoffs. Yet, when China does go after someone for corruption, and that someone flees to Canada for safety, we don't act expeditiously to help. Instead, we lecture the Chinese about their human-rights record.
People in custody here are not tortured, as they sometimes are in China. Legal protections exist in Canada that eclipse anything in China. But from China's perspective, we lecture it about how it handles cases but we slough off its complaints about its nationals taking refuge in Canada.
The Harper government is very keen on finger-wagging at the Chinese.
Li Wei, director of the anti-terrorism centre of the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, told the Washington Observer that the Celil case has become a political case, more than anything else. To China, Li said, Celil is an active member of the violent Eastern Turkstan Islamic Movement, a designated terrorist organization according to the UN. (The organization was allegedly linked to Al Queda and the Taliban and is outlawed by the US.)
Li said China has a lot of knowledge and information about this organization which is ready to share with Canada if Canada need it. However, China believed Canada should have look at a person's background in depth before granting him/her refugee status.
Wade Huntley, an UBC expert on East Asian affairs, said the dispute indicates that China and Canada haven't solved the problem of dual citizenship.
Huntley believed China is mimicking the US. "The Americans have locked up many people of many nationalities in Guantanamo Bay and they refuse them consular services."
Huntley said China is using the same principle as the US in dealing with this case, and barring Canada to involve.
Li is not seeing the Celil case as a dual citizenship problem, because he was wanted by the Interpol before he changed his citizenship. "Harbouring a suspect wanted by a few countries is fundamentally flawed."
Huntley said domestic politics in Canada is worsening the Celil case. "Of course, China and Canada has a foundation to solve problems. The question is whether either side has the will to do it."
"The present Canadian government might not be interested in improving relations with China. Because they found that they could win more support if they stand firm against China."
Huntley believe the bilateral relation would not improve in the near term.
In an election society like Canada, the key is not about solving problems but about gaining political gains by whatever means, Huntley said.
A good leader shouldn't follow the masses, but to think about what's best for the country. But the Harper government only cares about what the public wants, Huntley said. If the public wants a harsh PM, Harper will act as a hardliner.
See also:
Chinese ambassador: 'Do you think I should be expelled'
Harper's high profile politics crushes hope to save Celil behind the scene
Boot Chinese ambassador from Canada, Celil's wife says
Celil gives money to terrorist group, Chinese court says
Celil sentenced to life in prison
Tags: china, canada, US, celil, terrorist, human rights, diplomacy, politics
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