Ethics Newsline®

Special to Newsline from Canadian correspondent Errol P. Mendes

OTTAWA
A Liberal senator of the Canadian Parliament last week accused China of blackmailing Canada by hinting at economic retaliation for a too-warm welcome that the Dalai Lama received on his visit to Canada.

The complaints from Senator Jim Munson, who filmed government abuse of Bhuddist monks in Lhasa, Tibet, as a journalist 15 years ago, focus on Chinese warnings of possible strains to Sino-Canadian trade relations.

China’s hints came as Canada’s leader, Paul Martin, last week became the first Canadian prime minister to meet the exiled Dalai Lama, reported the Agence France-Presse.

“It has been argued by some that meeting the Dalai Lama may affect our trade relations with China,” Munson said last week. “This is nothing short of diplomatic blackmail.”

Prime Minister Martin agreed to meet with the Dalai Lama only as a spiritual leader in a meeting at the residence of the Roman Catholic archbishop of Ottawa. The meeting was attended also by other religious leaders in what was termed a spiritual meeting covering topics that could include human rights in Tibet.

The Chinese government regards the Dalai Lama as a menacing separatist who threatens the unity of the country, noted the Globe & Mail. Canada has recognized the sovereignty of China over Tibet.

In his Canadian meetings, the Dalai Lama reaffirmed that he is only seeking autonomy for Tibetans within a sovereign China and has urged Canada to act as a mediator to resolve the conflict with China.