Since the arrest of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver, for an alleged scheme to use the global banking system to evade U.S. sanctions against Iran, the Chinese government has become increasingly belligerent towards Canada.
China has imprisoned multiple Canadian nationals, including Former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor. Beijing is now sentencing a man to death after a widely publicized display - broadcasted by national and international broadcasters - to show just how serious they are. All this, presumably to ensure that Ms. Meng's extradition to the United States does not occur.
Donald Clarke, a specialist in Chinese law at George Washington University, stated that Schellenberg's death sentence appears to be "an unprecedented step in China's diplomacy".
"I have seen cases I considered unjust before, but I cannot recall a previous case that looked so clearly unconnected to the defendant's guilt or innocence," Prof Clarke told the BBC's Chinese service.
While the Chinese government has been keen to exert pressure on Trudeau, they seem to have failed in ultimately understanding the independent nature of our judiciary.
As a result, it is incredibly likely that the Chinese government will continue to be hostile. While Ms. Meng continues to pass through our legal system, receiving access to high-level lawyers, and comfortable house arrest, the same cannot be said for any of the Canadians effectively taken hostage by the Chinese government.
As of this moment, the Canadian government has issued a travel warning to China, noting that Canadians could suffer from "the risk of arbitrary enforcement of local laws," but this advisory does not go far enough.
Canada requires a severe and multi-angled approach to handling China.
According to Dr. Brian Lee Crowley the Managing Editor for the Macdonald Laurier Institute, a timid or friendly approach like those taken by previous governments will not work, and therefore it may be time to consider expelling China's Ambassador to Canada, Lu Shaye.
READ MORE: China’s ambassador must stop dictating alternative facts to Canada
"It's time for Canada to [very seriously consider] expelling the Chinese ambassador. This is a man who has made public comments portraying Canada as a racist country... he represents a country that's threatening to judicially execute Canadians. We need to signal that that's totally unacceptable."
Dr. Crowley also suggests other potential measures include levelling Magnitsky sanctions against Chinese human rights violators in the regime and pursuing a coordinated approach with other Western countries to put pressure on Beijing for its increasingly dangerous behaviour.
While Dr. Crowley only suggests "considering" expulsion of the ambassador, news headlines like "China is holding two Canadians hostage. It's not even denying it", as well as "China's Canadian hostages", and "Canadian's death sentence in China 'horrific'" could force the hand of any government to make tough decisions, and finally expel Chinese ambassador Lu Shaye.
What do you think? Should Canada respond by expelling the Chinese ambassador?
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