prime minister stephen harper goes to china and canada's enemies
TRANSCRIPT
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8/3/2019 Prime Minister Stephen Harper Goes to China and Canada's Enemies
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PRIMEMINISTERSTEPHENHARPERsTRIPTOCHINAANDCANADASENEMIES
DonCurrie,EditorFocusOnSocialism,ChairCPSJanuary11,2012
www.FocusOnSocialism.ca
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PrimeMinisterStephenHarperwillvisitChinanextmonthpromotingthesaleofCanadianoil
to China and according tomedia reports, seekingmore Chinese investment in Canadian
energyprojects.
Harper
will
also
be
seeking
to
advance
the
governments
plan
to
join
the
US
backedAsiaPacificfreetradeagreementknownastheTransPacificPartnership.1
The media speculates that the trip represents a change in the Harper Governments
heretofore hostile attitude to China.During the January 2006 federal election campaign,
desperate to garner all rightwing anticommunist voters available, Harper on several
occasionsdenouncedChinashumanrightsrecordimplyingthatitmustchangebeforehe
wouldvisitandChinaCanadianrelationscouldimprove.
AssoonasheachievedaParliamentarymajoritytherhetoriccooledanddiplomaticchannels
betweenCanada
and
China
began
to
open
up.
DoesthiscoolingofrhetoricrepresentachangeintheHarperGovernmentsstrategicview
ofChinaandthestruggleunderwayforUSdominanceoverrivalsintheAsianPacificregion?
OnDecember07,2011standingnexttoPresidentObamaannouncinganewbordersecurity
dealbetweenCanadaandtheUSAthePrimeMinistersaid:
WhatthreatensthesecurityandwellbeingoftheUnitedStatesthreatensthesecurityand
wellbeingofCanadaCanadahasnofriendsamongAmerica'senemies.2
Onewonders
why
some
journalist
or
opposition
member
of
Parliament
not
asked
the
Prime
Ministerashe headsforChinainFebruary;isChinaanenemyorfriendoftheUSA?
Harpers statement in Washington regarding Canadas friends and enemies has to be
considered in the lightofwhat theUSA issayingabout friendsandenemies in theAsian
Pacific.
HereiswhatPresidentObamasaidtotheAustralianParliamentlastNovemberregardingUS
strategicaimsintheAsianPacificregionthatcontainedspecificreferencetoChina.Infactit
wouldnotbeanexaggerationtoconsiderthespeechastatementofUSpolicyintheregion
regardingtheriseofChina:PresidentObamasaid:
1http://www.international.gc.ca/tradeagreementsaccordscommerciaux/agracc/tppptp.aspx?lang=eng&view=d2http://www.edmontonjournal.com/business/Obama+Harper+unveil+accord+border+security/5828712/story.html
http://www.international.gc.ca/trade-agreements-accords-commerciaux/agr-acc/tpp-ptp.aspx?lang=eng&view=dhttp://www.international.gc.ca/trade-agreements-accords-commerciaux/agr-acc/tpp-ptp.aspx?lang=eng&view=dhttp://www.international.gc.ca/trade-agreements-accords-commerciaux/agr-acc/tpp-ptp.aspx?lang=eng&view=dhttp://www.international.gc.ca/trade-agreements-accords-commerciaux/agr-acc/tpp-ptp.aspx?lang=eng&view=dhttp://www.international.gc.ca/trade-agreements-accords-commerciaux/agr-acc/tpp-ptp.aspx?lang=eng&view=dhttp://www.international.gc.ca/trade-agreements-accords-commerciaux/agr-acc/tpp-ptp.aspx?lang=eng&view=dhttp://www.international.gc.ca/trade-agreements-accords-commerciaux/agr-acc/tpp-ptp.aspx?lang=eng&view=dhttp://www.international.gc.ca/trade-agreements-accords-commerciaux/agr-acc/tpp-ptp.aspx?lang=eng&view=dhttp://www.international.gc.ca/trade-agreements-accords-commerciaux/agr-acc/tpp-ptp.aspx?lang=eng&view=dhttp://www.international.gc.ca/trade-agreements-accords-commerciaux/agr-acc/tpp-ptp.aspx?lang=eng&view=dhttp://www.international.gc.ca/trade-agreements-accords-commerciaux/agr-acc/tpp-ptp.aspx?lang=eng&view=dhttp://www.international.gc.ca/trade-agreements-accords-commerciaux/agr-acc/tpp-ptp.aspx?lang=eng&view=dhttp://www.edmontonjournal.com/business/Obama+Harper+unveil+accord+border+security/5828712/story.htmlhttp://www.edmontonjournal.com/business/Obama+Harper+unveil+accord+border+security/5828712/story.htmlhttp://www.edmontonjournal.com/business/Obama+Harper+unveil+accord+border+security/5828712/story.htmlhttp://www.international.gc.ca/trade-agreements-accords-commerciaux/agr-acc/tpp-ptp.aspx?lang=eng&view=d -
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AsPresident, Ihave thereforemadeadeliberateand strategicdecision asaPacific
nation,theUnitedStateswillplayalargerandlongtermroleinshapingthisregionand
itsfuture,
by
upholding
core
principles
and
in
close
partnership
with
allies
and
friends.
Letmetellyouwhatthismeans.
First,weseeksecurity,whichisthefoundationofpeaceandprosperity.Westandfor
an internationalorder inwhichtherightsandresponsibilitiesofallnationsandpeople
are upheld.Where international law and norms are enforced.Where commerce and
freedomofnavigationarenotimpeded.Whereemergingpowerscontributetoregional
security,andwheredisagreementsareresolvedpeacefully.
That
is
the
future
we
seek.
Now,IknowthatsomeinthisregionhavewonderedaboutAmerica'scommitmentto
upholdingtheseprinciples.Soletmeaddressthisdirectly.
AstheUnitedStatesputsourfiscalhouseinorder,wearereducingourspending.And
yes, after 'a decade of extraordinary growth in our military budgets and as we
definitivelyendthewarinIraq,andbegintowinddownthewarinAfghanistan wewill
makesomereductionsindefencespending.
As we consider the future of our armed forces, we have begun a review that will
identifyour
most
important
strategic
interests
and
guide
our
defence
priorities
and
spendingoverthecomingdecade.
Sohereiswhatthisregionmustknow.
As we end today's wars, I have directed my national security team to make our
presence and mission in theAsia Pacific a top priority.As a result, reductions inUS
defencespendingwillnot Irepeat,willnot comeattheexpenseoftheAsiaPacific.
Myguidanceisclear.
As we plan and budget for the future, we will allocate the resources necessary to
maintainourstrongmilitarypresenceinthisregion.
Wewillpreserveouruniqueabilitytoprojectpoweranddeterthreatstopeace.We
willkeepourcommitments,includingourtreatyobligationstoallieslikeAustralia.
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And we will constantly strengthen our capabilities to meet the needs of the 21st
century. Our enduring interests in the region demand our enduring presence in this
region.
TheUnitedStatesisaPacificpower,andweareheretostay.
Indeed,we'realreadymodernisingAmerica'sdefencepostureacrosstheAsiaPacific.
Itwillbemorebroadlydistributed maintainingourstrongpresence inJapanandon
theKoreanpeninsula,whileenhancingourpresenceinSoutheastAsia.
Ourposturewillbemoreflexible withnewcapabilitiestoensurethatourforcescan
operatefreely.Andourposturewillbemoresustainable byhelpingalliesandpartners
buildtheir
capacity,
with
more
training
and
exercises.
WeseeournewposturehereinAustralia.
The initiatives thatthePrimeMinisterand Iannouncedyesterdaywillbringourtwo
militaries even closer. We'll have new opportunities to train with other allies and
partners,fromthePacifictotheIndianOcean.
And it will allow us to respond faster to the full range of challenges, including
humanitariancrisesanddisasterrelief.
Since World War II,Australians have warmly welcomedAmerican service members
who'vepassedthrough.
Onbehalfof theAmericanpeople, I thank you forwelcoming thosewhowill come
next,astheyensurethatouralliancestaysstrongandreadyforthetestsofourtime.
WeseeAmerica'senhancedpresenceintheallianceswe'vestrengthened.
InJapan,whereouralliance remainsa cornerstoneof regional security. InThailand,
wherewe'repartneringfordisasterrelief.
InthePhilippines,wherewe'reincreasingshipvisitsandtraining.AndinSouthKorea,
whereourcommitmenttothesecurityoftheRepublicofKoreawillneverwaver.
Indeed,wealsoreiterateourresolvetoactfirmlyagainstanyproliferationactivitiesby
NorthKorea.
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The transferofnuclearmaterialsormaterialbyNorthKorea to statesornonstate
entitieswouldbeconsideredagravethreattotheUnitedStatesandourallies.
AndwewouldholdNorthKoreafullyaccountablefortheconsequencesofsuchaction.
WeseeAmerica'senhancedpresenceacrossSoutheastAsia.
In our partnership with Indonesia against piracy and violent extremism, and in our
workwithMalaysiatopreventproliferation.
Intheshipswe'lldeploytoSingapore,andinourclosercooperationwithVietnamand
Cambodia.And inourwelcomeof Indiaas it"lookseast"andplaysa largerroleasan
Asianpower.
Atthesametime,we'rereengagedwithregionalorganisations.
OurworkinBalithisweekwillmarkmythirdmeetingwithASEANleaders,andI'llbe
proudtobethefirstAmericanpresidenttoattendtheEastAsiaSummit.
Together, I believe we can address shared challenges, such as proliferation and
maritimesecurity,includingcooperationintheSouthChinaSea.
Meanwhile, the United States will continue our effort to build a cooperative
relationshipwithChina.
Allofournations Australia, theUnitedStates,allofournations haveaprofound
interestintheriseofapeacefulandprosperousChinaandthatiswhytheUnitedStates
welcomesit.
We've seen that China can be a partner, from reducing tensions on the Korean
Peninsulatopreventingproliferation.
And we'll seek more opportunities for cooperation with Beijing, includinggreater
communication between our militaries to promote understanding and avoid
miscalculation.
Wewilldothis,evenascontinuetospeakcandidlytoBeijingabouttheimportanceof
upholdinginternationalnormsandrespectingtheuniversalhumanrightsoftheChinese
people.
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AsecureandpeacefulAsia isthefoundationforthesecondarea inwhichAmerica is
leadingagain andthat'sadvancingoursharedprosperity.
History teachesus thegreatest force theworldhaseverknown for creatingwealth
andopportunityisfreemarkets.
Soweseekeconomiesthatareopenandtransparent.
We seek trade that is free and fair.And we seek an open international economic
system,whererulesareclearandeverynationplaysbythem.
InAustraliaandAmerica,weunderstandtheseprinciples.We'reamongthemostopen
economiesonearth.
Sixyearsintoourlandmarktradeagreement,commercebetweenushassoared.
Our workers are creating new partnerships and new products, like the advanced
aircrafttechnologieswebuildtogetherinVictoria.
We'retheleadinginvestorinAustralia,andyouinvestmoreinAmericathanyoudoin
anyothernation,creatinggoodjobsinbothcountries.
We recognise that economicpartnerships can'tjustbe aboutonenation extracting
another'sresources.
Weunderstandthatnolongtermstrategyforgrowthcanbeimposedfromabove.
Real prosperity prosperity that fosters innovation and prosperity that endures
comesfromunleashingourgreatesteconomicresourceandthat'stheentrepreneurial
spirit,thetalentsofourpeople.
So even as America competes aggressively in Asian markets, we're forging the
economicpartnershipsthatcreateopportunityforall.
Buildingon
our
historic
trade
agreement
with
South
Korea,
we're
working
with
AustraliaandourotherAPECpartnerstocreateaseamlessregionaleconomy.
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AndwithAustraliaandotherpartners,we'reontracktoachieveourmostambitious
trade agreement yet, and a potential model for the entire regionthe TransPacific
Partnership.3
WehavedeliberatelyquotedPresidentObamas speechat lengthbecause itneeds tobe
carefully studiedas it isa frank statementof the intentionof theUS tobuildupa larger
military presence in the whole region, including provocatively in the South China Sea
adjacentChinasterritorialwaters.
Sincemakingthespeech,theUSmilitarypresence intheregionhasbeengrowingandUS
think tanks arebeginning todevelop a full rangeof arguments as towhy theUSAmust
increaseitsmilitarypresenceintheintheAsianPacificregion.Chinahasprotestedoverthe
USbuildup
near
Taiwan
and
China
and
Vietnam
and
predictably
has
increased
its
naval
defensesinSouthChinaSea.4
WhatisimportanttonoteinHarpersintentiontoseekCanadianmembershipintheTrans
Pacific Partnership Agreement is that China is excluded. The agreement is headed for
finalizationbytheendof2012.Canadianmembershipinatradingpartnership,dominatedby
theUSAinwhichChinaisexcludedwillbeviewedbyChinawithsuspicionandskepticism.
CanadianshavealwayshadfriendlyandcordialrelationswithChina.Canadawasamongthe
first NATO states to recognize China and has benefited greatly over the decades from
improvedtrade.
One
wonders
as
the
Prime
Minister
sits
down
with
the
leaders
of
China
how
hewillexplainhis support forUS strategicpolicy in theAsianPacificand inparticularhis
governments hostile stance toward the Democratic Peoples Republic of North Korea
(DPRK)andallyofChinaandaccordingtoPresidentObamaanenemyoftheUSA? Canada
imposedheavysanctionsonNorthKoreain2011.5
PrimeMinisterHarpersrhetoricaboutCanadahavingnofriendsamongtheenemiesofthe
USA is the kindofprovocativeand irresponsible statement thathas ledour country into
threeNATOwarsinthelasttwentytwoyearsandnowpossiblyotherswithIranandSyria.
ThePrime
Ministers
hyperbole
places
our
country
in
hostile
opposition
to
most
of
global
public opinion and innumerable governments and states that disapprove and resist US
3Readmore:http://www.smh.com.au/national/textofobamasspeechtoparliament201111171nkcw.html#ixzz1jCZoGbAo4http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/NA12Ad01.html5http://www.international.gc.ca/sanctions/koreacoree.aspx?lang=eng&view=d
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imperialistglobalandmilitarystrategicgoals.ThePrimeMinisteriswrongandirresponsible
tomakesuchexaggeratedstatements.
Canada should not join the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement and develop its own
independent andmutuallybeneficial trade relationswith China irrespectiveof the global
strategicaimsoftheUSAintheAsianPacific.
TheUSA is provoking an imperialist confrontationwith China in the Asian Pacific and is
seekingalliesinthatpurpose.Canadashouldnotbepartofit.