Ambassador to China is asked to explain Dalai Lama’s visit
ALAN FREEMAN AND GEOFFREY YORK
OTTAWA, BEIJING, November 2: Canada’s ambassador to China was summoned for consultations in recent days by the Chinese government, angered over Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s warm diplomatic welcome this week for the Dalai Lama in Ottawa.
The Chinese embassy in Canada confirmed yesterday that Robert Wright had been “called in by the Chinese Foreign Ministry for a representation.”
No details were provided but it’s believed the move was designed as a dressing down of Canada for the red-carpet treatment accorded to the Tibetan spiritual leader, regarded by China as a separatist who is undermining its national sovereignty.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has refused to discuss the issue. Repeated calls and e-mails from The Globe and Mail asking whether a protest had been lodged with Mr. Wright were met with delays and promises from the departmental spokesman to call back, but no confirmation of the news.
The Chinese government has already lashed out at Canada for what it called “disgusting conduct” for its welcome to the Dalai Lama, which particularly incensed the Chinese because it took place in Mr. Harper’s Parliament Hill office.
“It’s gross interference in China’s internal affairs. The Chinese side expresses its strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao declared earlier this week in Beijing.
“This disgusting conduct has seriously hurt the feelings of the Chinese people and undermined Sino-Canadian relations,” Mr. Liu said at a news briefing, calling on Canada to correct its conduct and stop supporting the secessionist activities of the Tibetan forces.
The Dalai Lama repeated in Canada this week that he is seeking only autonomy for Tibet within a sovereign China and is not interested in separation.
The summoning of Mr. Wright mirrors Chinese actions in response to recent similar face-to-face meetings between the Dalai Lama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel and U.S. President George W. Bush.
German Ambassador Michael Schaefer was called to the Chinese Foreign Ministry before the meeting with Ms. Merkel took place in September, while China lodged its protest with U.S. Ambassador Clark Randt a day after Mr. Bush’s meeting with the Dalai Lama, who was given the Congressional Gold Medal.
Dermot Travis, executive director of the Canada-Tibet Committee, said he believed “China is posturing at best” and that Beijing’s latest move would have little real impact. “I noticed that Bombardier yesterday was awarded a $590-million deal in China to supply rail cars to China,” Mr. Travis said.
The summoning of the Canadian ambassador is the first sign of concrete action by the Chinese in response to the Dalai Lama’s visit.
It represents a setback in Canadian efforts to improve relations following the chill caused by the conviction earlier this year in China of Huseyin Celil, a Canadian citizen who was sentenced to life imprisonment for “separatist activities.”
Mr. Celil was accused of terrorism because of his alleged links to groups seeking independence for Xinjiang, the region where the Uyghurs are the main ethnic group. China refused to recognize Mr. Celil’s Canadian citizenship.
Speculation is that the Chinese may follow up its protests by cancelling planned meetings with Canadian and Chinese government officials.
