Event Description

Join the Canadian International Council (CIC) National Capital Branch at its next Politics @ the Pub event!

Recent events are forcing us to take stock of Canada’s relationship with China and, indeed, of the manner in which we have managed our engagement with China’s government and society since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1970. There is disturbing evidence that the Chinese Communist Party has been advancing its interests in Canada in ways that are not always transparent and not always consistent with Canadian values and interests. Have we been naïve in the enthusiasm with which we have pursued closer ties with China and in assuming that China would adopt our values as its economy grew and it acquired more experience as a member of the international community? There is a pressing need to assess exactly what Chinese actors have been doing in Canada and factor that into what is bound to be a thorough reassessment of our stance towards the would-be superpower.

Speakers

Our speaker will be Jonathan Manthorpe. China’s influence in Canada is the subject of his new book, Claws of the Panda, which is drawing wide attention and favourable comment from experienced observers. Margaret McCuaig Johnston, a member of the National Capital Branch, will act as discussant.

Jonathan Manthorpe has had a fifty-five year career as a journalist, serving as a foreign correspondent in Asia, Africa and Europe for Southam News, as the European Bureau Chief for the Toronto Star and as the national political reporter for The Globe and Mail. He is the author of three books on international relations, politics and history. He is based in Victoria, British Columbia.

Margaret McCuaig Johnston has served in senior management positions in the Government of Canada and is now a Senior Fellow in the Institute for Science, Society and Policy at the University of Ottawa, as well as being a Senior Fellow of the China Institute of the University of Alberta, a Distinguished Fellow of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, and a Research Associate of Duke Kunshan University in China.

Registration

Tickets are $10.00 for CIC members and $15.00 for non-members, and include a beer or glass of wine.

To register online: https://cicncbfeb272019.eventbrite.ca

** While tickets will be sold at the door up to the capacity of the venue, we highly recommend purchasing tickets in advance to ensure a spot.

Email: ottawa@thecic.org