The Halifax International Security Forum, a U.S. think tank, planned to give an award to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, but the Canadian government, the forum’s main funder, reportedly objected and pressured it by refusing to provide funding for the think tank’s sponsorship, sparking great controversy in Canadian politics after the news broke, and despite the Canadian defense minister’s denial that the sponsorship would be withdrawn, it was still criticized by the Trudeau government for being too soft on China and currying favor with China. Analysts say that perhaps the Trudeau government has concerns about “Two Mikes” being detained by China, but whatever the reason, it is a shame that a democratic government would interfere with the activities of civil society.
U.S. online media outlet Politico reported Sunday (April 11), citing multiple sources, that the Washington-based Halifax International Security Forum’s decision late last year to give an award to President Tsai Ing-wen for her “steadfastness in the face of relentless Chinese pressure” was opposed by the forum’s main funder The Canadian government opposed the decision and threatened to withdraw support and funding from the forum if the award was given to Tsai.
The honorary award in honor of former U.S. Senator John McCain has been in place since 2018, with the first two awards going to people on the Greek island of Lesvos who assisted refugees in the Middle East and to protesters in Hong Kong who fought for civil rights. The decision to give the award to Tsai in 2020 for the 3rd time has been approved by McCain’s wife and Forum board member Cindy McCain, but the Forum has been caught in a dilemma after the Canadian government’s statement that “the question now is whether the Forum itself has decided to boycott the Canadian government and give the award to Beijing’s top target.”
The report has sparked great controversy in Canadian politics and public opinion, with Conservative MP John Williamson questioning Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, who was present at Monday evening’s special committee on Canada-China relations, over the matter.
Defense Minister denies he will withdraw funding
Ishjun denied that the forum will withdraw funding, and stressed that he believes that the forum held in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, not only provides a “unique dialogue” opportunity, but also brings many local economic benefits, the Department of National Defense will continue to fund the forum, and even consider the possibility of expanding it.
Shih did not mention whether the award put pressure on Tsai, but he distinguished the forum’s Washington headquarters at the Halifax Security Forum think tank from the forum’s activities “held in Halifax,” and said he did not understand why Williamson was questioning the Defense Department’s funding of the forum. Williamson was displeased with the statement and criticized the Liberal Trudeau government for using McCain’s award to Tsai as an excuse to scale back funding for the think tank, which was started by Canadian Conservatives “to maintain your close relationship with Beijing.
In an interview with the Voice of America, Scott Simon, chair of Taiwan studies and professor of sociology at the University of Ottawa, said in Chinese that the Trudeau government may have concerns that the two Michaels are still in Chinese custody, but it would be “very shameful” if it did interfere with the Halifax Security Forum award by withdrawing funding. It would be “very shameful” for a government in a healthy democracy not to interfere with the activities of civil society organizations and not to prohibit them from giving awards to anyone.
Friendly signal to China
Shi believes that the Trudeau government is “taking the initiative to say what China wants to hear” and is sending friendly signals to China, even if it comes under fire from the opposition, but it will have little impact on Canada’s domestic elections later this year because “the Chinese embassy will notice, the Chinese foreign ministry will notice, but if there’s any change in the (Canadian) economy, it’s not going to happen. But domestically (in Canada), if you went out on the street today and asked any ordinary person, they probably wouldn’t know about it, so I don’t think it would have a big impact.”
Shi also tweeted on his own Twitter account, “Canadian government’s interference with civil society organizations shows they are learning from the Chinese Communist Party. The Canadian people, not the Prime Minister, should decide Canada’s relationship with Taiwan.”
Gerrit van der Weese, an adjunct lecturer in East Asian current affairs at George Washington University, said in an interview with Voice of America that his guess is that the case of the two Macs may be a major consideration for the Canadian government because the two Macs have recently gone on trial and the case may be reaching a critical point in the final closing, “anything could The Canadian government may want to delay the Halifax Forum award to Tsai in light of the agreement with China.
Tsai is the ideal candidate for the award
The Politico report also quoted Halifax Forum Vice President Robin Shepherd as saying that the forum “has not yet announced the 2020 John McCain Public Service Leadership Award. Because of the challenges posed by the new epidemic, we look forward to making this announcement and holding the award at an appropriate time. Taiwan’s President Tsai is a highly respected international leader, the first female president of Taiwan, and a strong advocate for global democracy. She is certainly an ideal candidate for this award. We have no further information to provide at this time.”
McCain’s daughter, Meghan McCain, criticized the Canadian government as “a bunch of cowards” in a retweet Monday. She said, “It’s so sad – the Canadian government is a bunch of cowards who condone genocide in China.”
The news also caused an uproar in Canadian political and public opinion circles. David Mulroney, the former Canadian ambassador to China, tweeted, “This is a national disgrace. Canada’s foreign policy for women has no room for one of the most courageous, principled, and seriously threatened women on the planet. Canada’s One China policy does not require the federal government to censor independent institutions. While other countries are looking for creative new ways to support Taiwan, we are ducking and diving in the opposite direction.”
Toronto Sun columnist Anthony Furey also tweeted that the Trudeau government is trying to bully a security conference not to award an award to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen “because it goes against China’s wishes.”
Taiwan government: respect
Taiwan Foreign Ministry spokesman Ou Jiang’an said Monday that he respects the decision of the Halifax International Security Forum, but that the forum has not yet announced the winner of the McCain Award, and that if the forum does intend to give the award to President Tsai Ing-wen, it would be “a recognition and honor for President Tsai and the people of Taiwan in the fight against the epidemic and democracy,” but based on the concept of democracy and respect for the But based on the concept of democracy and respect for the forum, Taiwan “respects” the results of the forum award.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has publicly affirmed Taiwan’s democratic system and supported Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international multilateral forums, and Taiwan is grateful for the Canadian government’s long-standing support for Taiwan’s participation in international organizations.
The Halifax International Security Forum in Washington, D.C., released a message in mid-January that the 13th Forum will be held in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, from November 19 to 21 this year, calling the forum the most prestigious annual gathering of democratic decision-makers in the world’s political, military, media and business spheres. Forum Chairman Peter Van Praagh said the forum “is not only extremely relevant to strengthening strategic cooperation in the world’s democratic institutions, it is also very urgent.”
Past participants in this forum on international security issues included then-U.S. Secretary of Defense Hagel, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Commander Davidson, Canadian Defense Minister Shi Jun and other key officials from other countries.
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