Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (left) and Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen (Photo credit: taken from the Canadian parliamentary hearings and testimonies live online at parlvu.parl.gc.ca and a composite image from the Free Times)
The prestigious Halifax Forum for International Security (HFX) in Washington, D.C., recently intended to present the John McCann Public Service Leadership Award to Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen in recognition of her fearlessness of the Chinese Communist Party’s international oppression of Taiwan. However, the Canadian government, the forum’s main sponsor, has tried to withdraw its sponsorship for fear of provoking Beijing. The Canadian House of Commons passed a proposal on the 14th to make Tsai the ideal recipient of the McCann Award; the Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed its strong opposition and dissatisfaction on the 15th.
According to Politico, the Canadian Conservative Party’s Rep. Michael Chong (D-Calif.) proposed that Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen, a highly respected international leader and Taiwan’s first female president and a strong advocate of liberal democracy, be recognized as an ideal candidate for the McCann Award. The Canadian government should also continue to provide funding to the HFX.
Even Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who had been questioned about his lack of support for the decision, said during questioning that he had always supported Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international multilateral forums, and that Canada would continue to strengthen trade and civil relations with Taiwan.
Chuang also pressed Trudeau in Parliament on whether the Canadian government would continue to sponsor HFX funding when the HFX awarded the McCann Prize to Tsai. Trudeau promised that the Canadian government would continue to fund HFX and that ministers would continue to participate in the annual forum.
In response to the Canadian House of Commons passing the proposal to award the McCann Prize to Tsai, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian expressed his “strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition” to the proposal. He said China considers this a “wrong motion” and reiterated that “the one-China principle is the political foundation of Canada-China relations and a serious commitment of the Canadian government,” adding that “the Canadian side should fully understand the high sensitivity of the Taiwan issue and be prudent and careful. The Canadian side should fully understand the highly sensitive nature of the Taiwan issue and handle Taiwan-related issues carefully and appropriately to avoid harm to Canada-China relations.
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