During the Canadian Foreign Minister’s first trip to China between July 16 to 20, Canada didn’t discuss China’s human right record in public. Foreign Minister John Baird set aside that sensitive topic to close-door meetings with his Chinese counterpart, Mr. Yang Jiechi. Baird refused to discuss the closed-door meetings’ substance. It should be recalled that Mr. Yang is the Chinese official who denied Chinese police involvement in the downtown Beijing assaults of foreign journalists last Feb 27. The denials came despite video evidence and several witness testimonies to the opposite.

When asked about his handling of the human rights topic, Baird did not apologize. He insisted that the more effective way to broach this topic is through such non-public meetings. He claimed that this approach is more useful than “sitting at home and griping.” Baird’s approach to China’s human rights record is not new. Lawrence Cannon, his predecessor, also pursued a similar line. Cannon argued that when it comes to the sensitive human rights issue, Canada must work with the Chinese leadership from the inside rather than criticize China from the outside.

These views are a reflection of the impact of Chinese official criticism of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s vocal stance against the Chinese human rights violations. His decision in June 2006 to proclaim the Dalai Lama an honorary citizen of Canada due to his work as a “champion of human dignity” didn’t put Canada on China’s good side. Harper further tweaked China’s ire by not attending the 2008 Beijing Olympic’s opening ceremony. Harper has garnered some criticism from Canada’s influential business community due to these actions since many in this sector are pushing for greater business ties and trade with China.