February 23, 2021 Recording – The Global Ascendency of China

Webinar pdf

February 23^rd, 2021

1:00 – 2:00 p.m. EST (GMT -0050)

Online Registration

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• Free
• $10.00 – Suggested per webinar

Speaker

• Gar Pardy

Moderator

• James Christie

Seminar Theme

Since the death of Mao in 1976, China has re-emerged as a global power.  In the process, other countries are adapting their own policies and actions in order to maintain and further their own interests especially in economic and trade matters.  In a significant way, most countries have seen considerable benefit from their economic relations with China and in the coming years that is likely to remain a dominant force in their relations with China.

There is every indication China intends to use its position as a global power to ensure, initially, its dominance in the Asia-Pacific region. Already, there are strong indications that most countries of the region are inclined to accept that role for China especially as questions increase as to the reliability of the continuing United States role in the region.

Taiwan will remain as the single most important issue in the coming months.  Should it decide to declare it is an independent country and seek international support then there can be every expectation China will respond economically and militarily.  Just how far it would go militarily, remains as the key question and to a large extent that will be determined by how robust the United States will be in its support of Taiwan.  It is doubtful that other countries of the region, except for Australia, will want to engage in any significant way in direct support for a threatened Taiwan.

To some extent my book, China in a Changing World, provides a backdrop to this issue.  The book provides considerable material on the role of other countries in any direct confrontation with China and as we have seen by their actions, most do not and will not engage in anti-China actions.  At the same time China will continue to promote a cooperative international environment for its own policies and actions.

As for Canada, our China policy is dead in the water.  The continuing detentions of Mme Meng and Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor and the inability or unwillingness of Ottawa to take action that would bring the matter to a conclusion remains as a rock preventing little to no flexibility for Canada to play any significant role.

 Bios

Gar Pardy is a son of the Rock who for the last sixty years has travelled the world observing and dealing with its dangerous and wonderous manifestations.  First in Newfoundland, and then on to Labrador, Frobisher Bay, India, Kenya, the United States and Central America and places in between, Mr Pardy has dealt with large and small issues many of which were headlines in the daily reporting.  He is a graduate of Acadia (honours and valedictorian) and McMaster (Masters) Universities.  Since his retirement from the Department of Foreign Affairs in 2003 he has been a key witness in the work of commissions of inquiry on a variety of security matters.  He has written extensively on his experience and knowledge and his articles have appeared in numerous papers and he has appeared on the full range of radio and television news programs in Canada and beyond.  He has published two books, Afterwords From a Foreign Service Odyssey (2016) and China in a Changing World (2020) and has contributed chapters in The Human Rights of Anti-Terrorism (2008) and Omar Khadr Oh Canada (2012).  He lives in Ottawa with Laurel Pardy, also a writer. 

James Christie, The Rev. Prof. Dr. James Christie is an ordained minister of The United Church of Canada and Ambassador-at-Large of The Canadian Multifaith Federation. Professor Christie’s career encompasses: Professor of Whole World Ecumenism and Dialogue Theology at The University of Winnipeg; Dean of Theology, University of Winnipeg; President of The Canadian Council of Churches; General Secretary of the 2010 G8 World Religious Leaders Summit; an executive member of the G8 and G20 Interfaith Fora; Chair, World Federalist Movement; Chair, Project Ploughshares; and former co-chair of The Group of 78.  His most recent publication on Religious Diplomacy is Religious Soft Power and The United Nations, co-edited with Dr. Sherrie Steiner of Purdue University, to be released by Lexington N.Y., Spring, 2021.

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