Foreign Policy Forgotten Election Campaign Issues

Despite world evidence that is more interrelated for medium-sized open trading nations like Canada, foreign policy is rarely discussed in the campaign. Significant issues include an ongoing pandemic, “hostage diplomacy” in the detention of two communist Chinese citizens, and a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

Against this background, Canada’s nonpartisan diplomatic think tank Open letter On August 23, he urged five leaders, represented by the House of Commons, to recognize the importance of foreign policy issues during the campaign.

A letter from the Institute for Peace and Diplomacy, a non-profit, said, “If Canada continues to downplay the important role of domestic foreign policy debate, it will reduce its ability to secure its lifestyle and prepare for an increasingly uncertain world. There is a risk. ” IPD) Signed by 40 scholars, experts and former diplomats.

And on August 30, a commentary by the Foreign Policy Expert Committee was posted. Globe and Mail “Foreign policy does not seem to be on the agenda of our party,” he said.

It questioned the United States’ commitment to working with its allies to support the international order and said that other democratic worlds are responsible for addressing the burning international affairs.

“Canada should take advantage of the important relationships we have built over decades to build new relationships in order to exercise group leadership,” the commentary said.

David Maloney, Former Canadian Ambassador to China tweeted on August 27. “The crisis in Afghanistan shows how much we have withdrawn from the world,” he added. “Covid did not help, but the theater (costumes) rather than policy, ability, ability, effort, commitment. The government’s cynical preference for (including) is much more serious. “

According to August 30, public opinion about Canada’s recent evacuation efforts in Afghanistan was largely negative. Angus Reid Poll..

NS vote Only 2% of Canadians say the government’s efforts were successful, 41% said it worked as well as possible, and 37% said it failed.

Mainly China, but Russia is also increasingly recognized The greatest threat to world security, Economic, military and other areas of risk. And foreign policy experts have long called for a renewal of Canada’s policy to create better coordination among its allies to counter the threat.

Party platform

“We need to have a coherent diplomatic and defense policy strategy centered on our interests and invest our capabilities in areas of strategic importance to Canada, including the Arctic and the Pacific Ocean.” IPD Secretary-General Bijan Ahmadi told The Epoch Times.

NS conservatives With NDP National Party of Canada (PPC) I have a more conservative suggestion. NS Greens I have not comment About foreign policy during this campaign.

Foreign policy Liberal platformReleased on September 1st, it is a very secondary consideration, focusing on democracy, human rights, diversity and inclusion.

“Canada’s foreign policy is more important than previous generations,” the Conservative Party said in its “Canada’s Reconstruction Plan” election platform.

Dealing with threats from China has been Canada’s foreign policy since Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou was arrested in 2018 and then Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor were detained as widely regarded as retaliation. Has become one of the main focal points of.

The IPD letter highlights the rise of China as one of the key issues for Canada’s interests.

The Conservative Party has always proposed to the Communist Party China to take a stricter policy than the one adopted by the Liberal Party. NS NDP Also talks about confronting Beijing and working with Canada’s allies to lead a “cooperative international response to the neglect of China’s rule of law.”

Liberal Campaign platformIn a subsection of “The Fight between Authoritarianism and Foreign Interference” released on September 1, China was mentioned only once as an “authoritarian state” alongside Russia and Iran. NS PPC China is not mentioned in the foreign policy statement.

The Conservative Party has provided detailed plans to secure and promote national interests in terms of defense and international development, including providing targets to key regions such as the Arctic Circle and the Indo-Pacific. They also said they would ban Huawei from Canada’s 5G infrastructure.

NS NDP It supports multilateralism as the basis of Canada’s foreign policy.On the contrary PPC, Phase out development assistance and focus on urgent humanitarian action, NDP In addition, 0.7% of gross national income contributed to international development assistance, Abandon intellectual property COVID vaccine rights, something liberal I didn’t want to do it. The Liberal Party is also keen on increasing international aid.

NS PPC Canada has withdrawn from all UN commitments, minimized its presence in UN agencies, and said it “is increasing the tendency to dilute national sovereignty.”

NS IPD It features an “accelerating contest between great powers” that characterizes the world as “multipolar” and functions to “impose constraints on Canada’s ability to define and secure its interests as a sovereign state.”

Of course, the most serious hardship in the world in the last two years has been a pandemic, and Canada has become even more involved with the international community.

“The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic has made it even clearer that life in Canada is closely linked to world affairs,” said the IPD letter.