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It seems that China is entangled in so many stories these days: allegations of interference in Canadian elections at the federal, provincial and municipal elections; its involvement in the popular app TikTok and how that could be a security concern; Beijing’s support of Russia in its war with Ukraine; a reluctant provider of information on how the COVID-19 pandemic started.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping is scheduled to fly to Moscow next week to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin – a visit that will come just a few days after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin over war crimes in Ukraine.
In Canada, the problem of Chinese interference has been front and centre for the government of Justin Trudeau. The prime minister’s decision to name former governor general David Johnston to investigate the issue of foreign interference in the last two federal elections has done nothing to quiet the calls from other parties that a full public inquiry is needed. There have also been criticisms about the way the Canadian Security Intelligence Service has leaked information about China’s alleged interference, with fears that it will contribute to further incidents of anti-Asian racism.
For your weekend reading, I’ve pulled together a series of interesting reads from across The Conversation global network about China’s involvement in a wide range of national and international issues. These explanatory stories and analyses can help all of us get a better understanding on the complex issue of China’s role in so many important issues.
Have a great weekend and we’ll be back in your Inbox on Monday.
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Weekend Reads: The China problem
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Sam Routley, Western University
Leaks about Chinese interference in Canadian elections isn’t just about politics — it’s also a deeply concerning national security crisis that raises questions about the legitimacy of our elections.
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Margaret McCuaig-Johnston, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa
The federal government and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are showing courage in standing up publicly to China. But words must be matched with serious action.
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Nick Bisley, La Trobe University
Xi may speak with both Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy next week to push China’s peace plan for Ukraine, but we shouldn’t expect radical change in its foreign policy overnight.
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Michael A. Allen, Boise State University
China and Russia’s relationship is complex. But China’s decision to support Russia’s war on Ukraine could ultimately come down to China’s own political interests.
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Patrick F Walsh, Charles Sturt University; Ausma Bernot, Charles Sturt University
Without a review of what went wrong with intelligence gathering and analysis during the pandemic, we’re missing a golden opportunity to improve our intelligence agencies.
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Benjamin Dowling, University of Sheffield
The evidence on whether TikTok poses a risk to users’ privacy and security.
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Michael Beckley, Tufts University
US lawmakers heard testimony that suggests the era of engagement with China is over. Rather, policy may be hardening.
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Alexander Hinton, Rutgers University - Newark
A scholar of extremism attended the CPAC meeting in March, in part to try to understand political polarization, and only saw signs of a worsening divide.
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Matt Fitzpatrick, Flinders University
Labor has touted a renewed engagement with the Asia-Pacific since coming to power. The submarine deal, however, is not in this spirit.
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Henry Tsang, Emily Carr University
A virtual walking tour traces the route of a white mob that attacked Asian communities of Vancouver in 1907. Learning about past contexts may shed light on the recent surge in anti-Asian violence.
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Mend Mariwany; Nehal El-Hadi, The Conversation
The U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 led to civilian death and displacement. Twenty years later, Iraqis are telling their stories of conflict and trauma as they move towards healing.
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Miriam Frankel, The Conversation
It seems we are pretty lucky to have gravity that is just right for life.
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