Our problem with China is much bigger than the fate of the two Michaels

There is no easy way to put this. China is not Canada’s friend. It is a serial human rights abuser in Xinjiang against Uyghur Muslims. It is destroying culture in Tibet and Hong Kong is under pressure.

We cannot give in to China’s bullying with respect to Michael Spavor, left, and Michael Kovrig, who have been detained by Chinese authorities since December 2018. There must be a better way that uses diplomatic pressure, including that of our allies, and still follows the tenets of international law. We all know what happens when you kowtow to the local hoodlum, writes Phil Gurski. Photographs courtesy of Twitter and the International Crisis Group

Opinion

BY PHIL GURSKI

July 6, 2020

OTTAWA—Canadian governments are not the greatest in using the information intelligence agencies give them. You have to feel for the families of the so-called "two Michaels": Spavor and Kovrig. These two Canadians have been held by Chinese authorities for almost a year-and-a-half now and this is c...

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