PRC’s UFWD and Confucius Institutes are one part of a much wider problem. Interestingly the US State Department has identified them as part of the CCP’s global influence and propaganda apparatus. Yesterday in Washington, I discussed the State Department’s scrutiny of PRC influence and infiltration—including within human rights organisations, religious communities and monastic groups—with members of the ‘Freedom for All in China Alliance.’ They continue to be astonished by how far Canada lags in recognizing, considering and confronting these threats head on. A durable Canada–US trade agreement depends, in part, on the Prime Minister abandoning the myopic belief that China is a safe strategic bet. A life boat during troubled waters. Ottawa needs to listen to experts on Beijing’s economic coercion and its use of cultural exchanges to advance political influence to gain acceptance and then hollow out entire industries. Dismissing those who raise these concerns as “racist” or “McCarthyite” does nothing to answer the evidence. Ask Germany how its economic integration with China is working out. In June, German industry was reported to be losing 10,000 jobs a month. Subsidised Chinese overcapacity is intensifying pressure on manufacturers already struggling with high energy costs and other structural problems. Canada should learn from that experience before deepening its own exposure. Fair trade, stronger domestic industry and continental economic security must guide our approach and not the embrace of suspect countries on human rights line Turkey, China or even Iran. From “Elbows Up” to “Shoulder to Shoulder” open.substack.com/pub/thebur… @tozzi_piero @cbcwatcher @BlendrNews @LeadersFrontier