China would face “penalties” if it retaliates in opposition to athletes from nations who’ve joined a diplomatic boycott in opposition to the Beijing Olympics, Canada’s former ambassador to the nation mentioned Sunday.
However Man Saint-Jacques added he isn’t involved concerning the athletes’ security because of the worldwide backlash he says China would face if it made such a transfer.
“I believe there could be such a public, worldwide outcry in the event that they dare do something to athletes from the nations which have formally boycotted” February’s Winter Video games, he advised Mercedes Stephenson on The West Block.
“That and there could be penalties for China, so I’d not be too involved about that.”
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Why are nations boycotting the Beijing Olympics? Right here’s what it’s worthwhile to know
Saint-Jacques, who served as Canada’s ambassador to China from 2012 to 2016, mentioned he’s hopeful extra nations be part of the diplomatic boycott, which might make it “harder for China to penalize.”
Canada on Wednesday joined america, the UK and Australia within the diplomatic boycott, which was launched by the U.S. on Monday over China’s human rights abuses.
Athletes will nonetheless be allowed to attend and compete within the Beijing Winter Video games, however authorities officers is not going to attend.
Overseas Affairs Minister Melanie Joly advised reporters Wednesday the Royal Canadian Mounted Police will proceed its long-standing work with the Canadian Olympic Committee to attempt to maintain athletes protected whereas competing overseas.
Saint-Jacques mentioned the boycott was the minimal Canada and different Western nations ought to have performed to carry China accountable after Beijing secured the Olympics.
He mentioned the Video games ought to have been postponed for a 12 months because of the COVID-19 pandemic, giving nations time to stress China to comply with a United Nations investigation into alleged abuses in opposition to the Uyghurs in Xinjiang, which have been known as a genocide by Canada and different nations.
“In fact, China would have refused to collaborate, after which Canada and the U.S. might have collectively supplied to host the Video games utilizing current amenities in Whistler, Vancouver and Seattle,” he mentioned.
“However now, we’re enjoying catch-up.”
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China calls Canada’s diplomatic boycott of Winter Olympics a ‘farce’
China has known as the boycott a “farce” and criticized the nations taking part for politicizing sports activities.
Tensions between Canada and China have remained strained even after Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou was launched again to China in September — practically three years after she was arrested and positioned beneath home arrest in Canada to await extradition to the U.S. on fraud costs.
Two Canadians who had been detained in China shortly after Meng’s arrest, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, had been launched again to Canada hours after Meng was freed. But over 100 Canadians stay jailed in China, 4 of whom are on loss of life row, in keeping with World Affairs Canada.
Canada can also be set to announce a call on whether or not to incorporate Huawei within the nation’s 5G community. A ban on the Chinese language telecommunications big is anticipated to additional deepen the dispute between the 2 nations.
Amidst all this — together with elevated stress from the U.S. authorities for Canada to take a harder stance in opposition to Beijing — Canada’s present ambassador to China Dominic Barton introduced on Monday he’ll go away the publish at 12 months’s finish.
Saint-Jacques, who now serves as a fellow on the China Institute on the College of Alberta, mentioned he want to see a profession diplomat who has beforehand served in China step into the function, permitting that new ambassador to be extra “forceful.”
“There will likely be troublesome discussions with China,” he mentioned.
“When you’ve listened to what the Chinese language ambassador (to Canada) Cong Peiwu mentioned earlier this week, they don’t admit any guilt … they simply say that it’s for Canada to be taught the teachings. So it should take a very long time to rebuild confidence.”
Learn extra:
Canada’s diplomatic boycott of Beijing Olympics an indication of ‘progress,’ athletes say
He added that total, Canada must be “rather a lot firmer” in its place to China, which might align the nation extra intently with its allies.
As an alternative, he says Ottawa could also be lacking the second.
“What I’ve heard is that the coverage on China will likely be versatile and possibly not very express,” he mentioned. “And I’m a bit puzzled by this.
“We should work extra intently with allies to develop a typical technique to oppose the, what I name the darkish facet of China and to stop future hostage taking, and to cease the use by China of punitive commerce measures to punish you for those who don’t obey their orders. So there’s lots of work that must be performed on that.”
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