Liberal-appointed Sen. Yuen Pau Woo earlier this month in a speech delivered to Chinese Canadians said Ottawa’s friendship with Beijing is a “myth.”
Ottawa is deeply bigoted against China due in part to cynical politicians and media Woo told attendees of the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver on February 1.
His remarks were transcribed in an official translation obtained by Blacklock's Reporter. Woo named no names but suggested political aides, commentators and public employees were complicit.
“For all the mythology about Canada being a special friend to China since the 1970s the instinct to demonize China runs deep in Canada,” said Woo.
“After eight years as a senator in Ottawa I see it very clearly in Parliament, among political staffers, in government departments, in the government relations and lobbying community and of course the media,” said Woo.
“We are led to believe the most important foreign policy challenge for Canada is to counter China.”
“We’ve heard it time and time again from both government and opposition leaders and across mainstream English and French media,” said Woo.
“It is a mantra and those who utter it do so in a trance.”
Woo blamed the now-disbanded Commission on Foreign Interference on “McCarthyism,” “sensationalist media,” “craven politicians” and “an overzealous approach to national security.”
Woo was granted status as an intervenor at the Commission.
“We are in the grip of foreign interference hysteria fed by self-interested media, spineless politicians and opportunistic activist groups,” said Woo.
“To be clear, I am against foreign interference.”
Unnamed agitators sought to “divide Chinese Canadians into good Chinese and bad Chinese.”
“The latter are those who hold views that may align with the People’s Republic and who associate with groups in China that are seen to be enemies in the West.”
“The path to being a good Chinese is very clear. Demonstrate your hostility to Beijing and accuse as foreign agents those who don’t agree with you. Traditional anti-racism and human rights groups do not seem to understand this new threat," said Woo.
“To suggest China is an existential threat to Canada as some politicians and media have suggested is insanity.”
“Perhaps some of our leaders are only saying that for US consumption, but even so it is dangerous talk. It feeds the anti-China sentiment that has resulted in growing anti-Asian hate.”
Woo in a September 30 affidavit submitted to the Commission on Foreign Interference said he considered Chinese Communist Party advocacy in Canada as harmless.
“The Party is not interested in domestic Canadian legislation,” said the affidavit.
“This is not necessarily sinister, comparing it to other ethnic groups like the Irish.”