A moral dilemma for Chinese Canadians

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau welcomed Chinese Premier Li Keqiang warmly on his recent trip to Canada, promising a new era of cooperation between the two countries.

"We are entering a new era in the Canada-China friendship," Trudeau said at a welcome banquet speech, "One grounded in collaboration and mutual suspect ..."

Suspect?

Trudeau quickly corrected his slip of the tongue, emphasizing the words: "mutual respect." 

But for Karen Lin, a contributor to the Huffington Post, the slip was telling, as she says there is indeed a reason for suspicion.

As a Chinese Canadian, I take great pride in China's rise, lifting millions of people out of poverty and creating a vibrant middle class that now consists of almost 200 million people. But at the same time, I'm apprehensive and suspicious because I understand some of those economic gains were made on the backs of those who are struggling for their freedom.- Karen Lin

Lin says the Chinese Diaspora in Canada has a moral dilemma: whether to continue to toe the Chinese communist party line on national unity, or to speak out against human rights abuses and risk being black-listed by the Chinese government.

While China and Canada are in talks over how to further economic trade, China has pushed for an extradition treaty with Canada. Lin says there are very good reasons why countries such as Canada, the United States, Britain and Australia don't have extradition treaties with China.

"All these countries take great pride in judicial independence and the rule of law and they realize China could use the extradition treaty to punish its political dissidents."

Ultimately, she says second generation Chinese Canadians have a conscious choice to make.

We must decide if we want to fully sign on to Canadian values: freedom, liberty and a commitment to social justice. Because ultimately, we will be the bridge that connects the Chinese community and the rest of Canada- Karen Lin