Close X
Saturday, January 11, 2025
ADVT 
National

China slams Canada human-rights criticism as 'hypocritical farce of double standards'

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 02 Jan, 2025 03:17 PM
  • China slams Canada human-rights criticism as 'hypocritical farce of double standards'

China is accusing Canada of hypocrisy for criticizing Beijing's human-rights record, pointing to issues faced by Indigenous Peoples.

The blowback comes after Ottawa sanctioned eight Chinese officials it accuses of "grave human rights violations" against ethnic and religious minorities, and voiced concern about democracy in Hong Kong.

Ottawa issued a statement last month that cited reports of arbitrary and violent detainment of Uyghur people, as well as repression toward Tibetans and Falun Gong practitioners.

Global Affairs Canada also says it "deplores" that authorities are issuing international bounties for Hong Kong democracy activists and former lawmakers from the territory, including Canadians.

Beijing says those claims are baseless and it has sanctioned groups and activists in Canada who advocate for minorities in China, barring citizens from certain interactions with these activists.

Since then, China's state media has repeatedly called out Canada over its treatment of Indigenous Peoples, claiming Ottawa is being hypocritical.

"Canada is in no position to lecture others on human rights," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a Dec. 11 press conference, according to an official translation.

"Even today, Canada's Indigenous people still face systemic racial discrimination and unfair treatment. Instead of dealing with it, Canada chooses to smear and vilify other countries."

Mao added that "China has achieved enormous progress in human rights" that "no one without bias can deny."

A day later, she added that "the whole thing is an ugly, hypocritical political stunt done by some Canadian political figures under the pretext of human rights, to serve an unspeakable agenda and please the U.S."

China's embassy in Ottawa has been amplifying those messages on social media, including a political cartoon from a state-run media outlet CGTN showing a beaver with a tattered home telling a panda with an immaculate house that it has some cracks.

"Canada turns a blind eye to the systematic racism and unfair treatment that the Indigenous people face, yet fabricates accusations and smears China's human-rights progress," reads the cartoon caption. "Its constant political manipulation on human-rights issues is nothing more than a hypocritical farce of double standards."

In a recurring assessment of human-rights issues in Canada, the United Nations noted progress had been made in Indigenous rights and housing, while urging more be done.

The November 2023 assessment asked Canadian governments to stop human-rights abuses by Canadian mining corporations abroad and the overrepresentation of minorities in prison and child welfare. It also asked Canada to better respect Indigenous Peoples' rights to free, prior and informed consent.

The same body's assessment of China in January 2024 noted the country had improved its policies for women and children, but urged the government act to "ensure that all detainees are formally accounted for, granted access to their families and held in officially recognized places of detention."

It urged China "respect the rights to freedom of religion or belief, opinion and expression, peaceful assembly and culture, including for Tibetans, Uyghurs, and other minorities" and said counterterrorism laws are not "in compliance with international human-rights law and standards," including in Hong Kong.

MORE National ARTICLES

B.C. premier says feds and provinces plan right-left approach to Trump's tariff plans

B.C. premier says feds and provinces plan right-left approach to Trump's tariff plans
Eby says the premiers and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau talked about using their political diversity and connections to approach politicians and business leaders in the United States, as talks over Trump's proposed 25 per cent tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico ramp up.

B.C. premier says feds and provinces plan right-left approach to Trump's tariff plans

Vancouver changes tune under Swift spell, with Gastown clock to chime 'Shake it Off'

Vancouver changes tune under Swift spell, with Gastown clock to chime 'Shake it Off'
Taylor Swift's Eras Tour is changing many things in Vancouver, from the tune of Gastown's iconic clock to traffic patterns as thousands of fans pour into the city ahead of Friday's first show. 

Vancouver changes tune under Swift spell, with Gastown clock to chime 'Shake it Off'

Overseas hikers rescued in B.C. relied on online app: rescue group

Overseas hikers rescued in B.C. relied on online app: rescue group
The search and rescue organization for Metro Vancouver's North Shore mountains says its teams recently rescued two international visitors who became stranded after relying on online hiking apps without doing further research. A statement on social media by North Shore Rescue says the first call last Thursday came when a visitor "seriously underestimated the difficulty" of an unofficial trail marked in an online app.

Overseas hikers rescued in B.C. relied on online app: rescue group

Five Eyes security agencies send up flare for help on preventing youth radicalization

Five Eyes security agencies send up flare for help on preventing youth radicalization
Security agencies from Canada and other members of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance are calling for a "whole-of-society response" to deal with the radicalization of young people lured into violent extremism. A new report from the alliance, which also includes Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States, emphasizes the importance of looking for signs of radicalization.

Five Eyes security agencies send up flare for help on preventing youth radicalization

B.C. launches review of 911 services after complaints about costs, transparency

B.C. launches review of 911 services after complaints about costs, transparency
British Columbia is launching a review of the province's 911 emergency service after complaints about escalating costs and lack of transparency. Public Safety Minister Garry Begg says in a statement the review is to "ensure these services remain effective and sustainable for years to come" and to understand the cost increases.

B.C. launches review of 911 services after complaints about costs, transparency

Police arrest suspect in Calgary arson and extortion investigation

Police arrest suspect in Calgary arson and extortion investigation
Police in Calgary say they have made an arrest in an arson and extortion investigation. A fire last month caused minor damage to a house in the Hillhurst neighbourhood northwest of downtown.

Police arrest suspect in Calgary arson and extortion investigation