Letter: Good to Pause Over China's Rights Record

Embassy, November 8th, 2006: I disagree with John Manley's criticism of the Harper government's coolness towards China ("Over Half of Canadians Dislike Tories' Foreign Policy Direction: Poll" Nov. 1). It is actually quite refreshing to see a government pause in front of China's abysmal human rights record. The recent shooting of Tibetans, the news of organ harvesting of living Falun Gong members, the ongoing persecution of Uyghurs and Christians, not to mention the crackdown on rights lawyers should be more than enough to impose economic sanctions on Beijing. In the run-up to the 2008 Olympics, it is deplorable to see human rights violations are on the rise in China. Did we think that the brutal dictatorship was going to change overnight because they said so? I hope that human rights will play an active role in our government's foreign affairs policy.

Marie Beaulieu
Victoria, BC