The Commons Committee on Canada-China Relations went ahead today without the presence of its most-anticipated witness: former Trudeau government cabinet minister and ambassador to China John McCallum. "China does not respect the rule of law, it does not share liberal democratic values, and it does not protect human rights," said Glaser. Burton was critical of current ambassador Dominic Barton, who told the committee that Chinese civilization was predisposed to authoritarian rule. Canada's Ambassador to China Dominic Barton waits to appear before the House of Commons committee on Canada-China relations in Ottawa, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020. "Understanding the extent to which China values unity and the needs of society at large, rather than freedom of individual choice ... we just have to understand that."

Source: CBC News March 09, 2020 23:15 UTC