Fingers are being pointed in the House of Commons after details have emerged surrounding a now cancelled Chinese military training program on Canadian soil.
The opposition Conservatives are crucifying the current Liberal government, led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, for allowing the ongoing joint military training program. The Liberals are sounding off on the Conservative party for initiating the program themselves, with an agreement from 2013 when Stephen Harper was in office.
The “our side can clap louder than your side” discussion dominated question period in the House of Commons late this week.
The conversation was sparked by reports from The Globe and Mail and Rebel News citing government documents suggesting cold-weather training exercises were supposed to take place in 2019, with Canadian soldiers training members of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in winter military activities. The training was set to take place at CFB Petawawa.
The Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan says the exercises were cancelled and Canada is no longer training members of the Chinese military.
James Bezan, the Conservative defence critic openly questioned why Prime Minister Trudeau would maintain these relations with China in today’s landscape.
Initial media reports indicated the Chief of Defence Staff General Jonathan Vance opted to cancel the joint training exercise and received “push back” from Global Affairs Canada and the Prime Minister in relation to the decision.
That push back is alleged to involve potential aggravation between the nations connected to the detainment of two Canadian citizens in Beijing.
Global Affairs and Prime Minister Trudeau were reportedly concerned the Chinese government may view the cancellation of the program as a retaliation in response to the detention of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor.
Two years after being detained on espionage charges, Kovrig and Spavor remain in separate Chinese prisons. Neither of the two men have had their charges heard at trial. Many believe the charges are completely unfounded. There is also widespread belief in Canada and among western allies that the detainment and charges are in response to the RCMP’s arrest of Chinese tech executive Meng Wanzhou of Huawei in December of 2018.
The Defence Minister says the joint training program between Canada and the PLA, noted as The Cooperation Plan Initiative was signed in August of 2013. The Canada-China Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments Agreement also began in 2014.
Defence critic Bezan’s response indicated that the Chinese government is “completely different” today, than it was in 2013.
New federal Conservative leader Erin O’Toole says the joint training exercises are a “dangerous path” and has put Canada and its citizens at risk.
The Government of Canada outlines the co-operation of the two nations on their website, saying the DND/CAF has been enhancing its engagement with the Ministry of National Defence of the People’s Republic of China and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army. Since 2012, Canada has been advancing this emerging bilateral defence relationship through several high-level meetings, which culminated in Canada’s and China’s defence ministers signing the non-binding Cooperation Plan Initiative between the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and Canada’s Defence Team in August 2013. The Cooperation Plan Initiative is designed to guide the further development of bilateral defence relations, and encompasses defence-related activities that demonstrate reciprocal value, are modest in nature and are enduring in the long-term. DND/CAF’s engagement activities with the PLA currently include strategic military-military talks, reciprocal visits by government and military officials, academic exchanges and promoting links between the various components of the military.
The Toronto Sun is reporting the Department of National Defence (DND) has confirmed the Chinese military did indeed train in Canada in February of 2018. However, the DND says they took part “merely as observers” for the winter training exercises. The DND tells the Sun this “observation status for non-sensitive activities, including winter survival exercises” is based on the agreement signed in 2013 and has been “occasional” and “reciprocal.”
