France Goes Vichy For Beijing, Canada Sucks Up More Cautiously

It seems after initially making some principled bluster about boycotting the opening of the Beijing Olympics Nicolas Sarkozy remembered he was the President of France, and promptly surrendered ground at the first hint of confrontation. Following President Bush’s about face, Sarkozy, who had set himself up as the voice of European conscience a few months prior over human rights abuses in Tibet, knuckled under amid smiling photographs and subtle pressure from Chinese President Hu Jintao at the G8 summit, announcing he will now attend the opening of the Beijing games. With the French position softening steadily there is some speculation as to what will happen when the Dalai Lama comes for a scheduled visit to France later in August. Sarkozy has used guarded language about the forthcoming visit, saying that it is “possible” he could meet with the exiled spiritual leader, but has refused to comment further. With the Chinese ambassador to Paris threatening “serious consequences” should Sarkozy meet with the Tibetan figurehead it is seeming more an more likely that France will go the way of the Belgians who earlier last year shunned the revered monk after similar threats, favouring instead to pander to Beijing.

As France and the U.S. fall into stride and answer the beck and call of the Chinese government, one can’t help but wonder if Canada’s subtle placating manoeuvres will pass muster with Beijing and at home. Prime Minister Harper has indicated he doesn’t intend to attend the games at this time, however he’s taken pains to insist this isn’t a protest, all the while making a few sound bites on human rights at other moments in hopes it will be seen as much at home without ever making it official. Harper has indicated that he still intends to send high level government representation, a move that in this delicate balancing act is intended to show Canada’s support to Beijing, but still give Harper distance so he doesn’t look so bad the next time Chinese soldiers waylay a crowd of peaceful protesters.

Canada, while not as discredited as Sarkozy for his about face, cannot settle for such a weak foreign policy. Confused gestures like the routine that is being put in place only signal that we are willing to collaborate with the People’s Republic and put on a display of support for consumption by the stifled masses there, just so long as they promise not to make us cheerlead for them too loudly at home. It’s a position that ultimately will not incur respect from either the PRC or Canadians. If Harper wants to come off as half the dragon slayer he set himself up to be when he first took power he’d best start with the simple gestures, like boycotting the opening ceremonies at Beijing, because it doesn’t get any more straightforward or easy to act on human rights abuses from thereon.