Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau, who is visiting Europe, hyped up "Chinese influence" in front of Dutch lawmakers.
(Globe and Mail: Before the G20 summit, Trudeau warned in the Netherlands that disinformation threatens democracy and the global economy.)
The Globe and Mail and other Canadian media said that Trudeau delivered a speech at the Knights Hall of the Dutch Parliament Palace on the 29th local time and answered questions from parliamentarians, he declared that disinformation movements and extremism are a serious threat to the global economy and democracy. "Not only conspiracy theorists and marginalized angry netizens, but also state actors who use disinformation, propaganda and cyberwarfare to undermine our economy, our democracy, and the beliefs that sustain our principle of unity," he added. ”
Who is he talking about?
Trudeau did not mention any specific state actors, but more than one of the questions raised by Dutch lawmakers focused on China's rising influence. Trudeau said the fact "poses a great challenge to democracies around the world and to our trading system."
Trudeau site map
But he also declared that China's "player" was too important to withdraw completely. "We can't pretend that China doesn't exist and ignore it with our arms," Trudeau said, "and now it plays a very important role in our economy." ”
Trudeau also added that countries such as Canada and the Netherlands must engage constructively with China on issues such as trade and climate change. At the same time, however, he did not forget the old rhetoric, claiming that he would challenge China on so-called human rights, Hong Kong-related Xinjiang-related Taiwan-related issues, and the South China Sea.
Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Network reporter on the 29th that Trudeau's statement reflects that the Western political elite is not willing to be in a disadvantageous position in the competition with China. In their eyes, it is legitimate that the dominance of international affairs is controlled by the West, and once this dominance falls into the hands of non-Western countries, or if the leadership of non-Western countries in international affairs is improved, they will feel vigilant and oppose it in various ways.
Li Haidong said that Trudeau, with a self-righteous Western superiority theory of thinking and logic, has made a very negative positioning for China's increased influence in international affairs. This positioning suggests that the West is struggling to adapt to a more powerful China and is trying to weaken and discredit China's growing influence in various ways.
However, Li Haidong also mentioned that we also need to see that although Trudeau continues to smear China, he must also acknowledge the fact that China's influence is increasing. By refusing to cooperate with China in areas such as international trade and climate change, the problems facing and concerning the West cannot be solved. Western politicians, including Trudeau, have to admit that some global issues require the full cooperation of the West and China.
Trudeau departed for Europe on the 28th for a six-day visit. Trudeau's trip was primarily for the Group of 20 (G20) summit in Italy and the 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26) in the United Kingdom, but he made an official visit to the Netherlands prior to attending both meetings.
(Trudeau (right) and Dutch Princess Margaret in front of the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen opsom, the Netherlands, on October 29.