'a self-centred giant baby': how china is bashing canada

October 13th marked the 50th anniversary of Canada establishing diplomatic ties with the People’s Republic of China. While the occasion was largely overlooked here, in Chinese state media it

became an opportunity to lecture Canadians on the consequences of breaking faith with a rising China. “In the past 50 years, China-Canada ties have undergone a positive momentum … however,

after Meng’s arrest in 2018, ties were severely hurt,” read a story in Global Times which ended with the disclaimer that “without properly handling Meng’s case, all forms of exchanges would

be hurt.” Liu Dan, a research fellow with the Centre for Canadian Studies in Guangdong, penned a companion op-ed saying that “the US has always used Canada in its competition with China.

Washington will not hesitate to put Ottawa in a dilemma.” And in December, Global Times featured another Canadian studies professor, Yao Peng, to write that “middle powers” such as Canada

“depend” on Chinese trade, and will “will finally learn facts” when they threaten this relationship by meddling in Chinese affairs. The economic consequences of angering China have been a

long-running theme of Chinese foreign relations of late, although editorials targeted at Canada have usually taken a paternalistic tone, labelling Canada as a naïf being led to ruin by its

American overlords. In June, an op-ed in T-House, a Chinese state-affiliated media outlet, warned Canada that despite “domestic politics” and “U.S. pressure,” opposing China would only

worsen its “economic woes.”