我为“土豆”中国立场再投赞成票

随着中国不断扩大其国际政治影响力，一场专制浪潮席卷全球，让包括加拿大在内的这些自由民主国家陷入困境。然而，尽管中国对加拿大逮捕孟晚舟进行恶毒报复，加拿大和特鲁多政府在维护其司法制度和法治的完整性方面表现出了非凡的坚韧性。

With China's growing efforts to expand its international political clout, an authoritarian wave has swept across the globe that forces the Liberal democratic nations like Canada into a corner.  However, faced with China's vicious retaliation against Canada for arresting Meng Wanzhou, Canada and Trudeau's government has shown its remarkable resilience in maintaining the integrity of its justice system and the rule of law.



中国拘留了两名无辜的加拿大人以发泄对加拿大逮捕孟的愤怒。同时，中国还禁止从阿尔伯塔省进口的油菜籽以及魁北克的猪肉产品，从而进一步加剧了双边紧张局势。随着中国对加拿大的欺凌行为升级，更多加拿大政客屈服于中国压力而纷纷接受释放孟晚舟的主张。

To vent its anger against Canada's arrest of Meng, China has detained two innocent Canadians. It has also blocked canola seeds import from Alberta and suspended the pork products from Quebec, further escalating the bilateral tension. With the Middle Kingdom doubling down its bullying efforts towards Canada, more Canadian politicians seem to embrace the idea of caving into Chinese pressure to release Meng.

早在去年12月孟晚舟在温哥华被捕之后，在加国政治高层中就出现了向中国就范之主张。他们认为为了避免激怒世界第二大经济实体，加国应该放弃其法律原则。当时，前副总理约翰•曼利批评加拿大当局不恰当地处理美国要求逮捕孟的请求，称特鲁多政府可能会采用一点“创造能力”对待孟晚舟事件，既警告孟不要在温哥华更换航班。如果加拿大官员早向孟晚舟通风报信，她也就不会落入加国法律的管辖范围内，加拿大也就会避免了一场外交危机，不会在世界两大超级大国之间的网络技术战中难以自拔。包括前加拿大贸易谈判大使戈登•里奇在内的几位加国前外交官都支持这一观点。

The idea of bending a few principles to avoid angering the world second-largest economy was floated as early as December, right after Meng's arrest in Vancouver. Back then, former Deputy Prime Minister John Manley criticized Canadian authorities for inappropriately handling the U.S. request to arrest Meng. The Trudeau government could have employed a little "creative competence" -- by warning Meng not to change flight in Vancouver, he said. Had Canadian officials tipped Meng off, she would have stayed beyond the reach of Canadian law. Canada would not have found itself in a diplomatic crisis, avoiding getting caught in the middle of a tech war between the world's two superpowers altogether. Several former diplomats -- including Gordon Ritchie, a former Canadian ambassador for trade negotiations, shared this opinion.



前驻华大使麦家廉表示，引渡孟晚舟将会造成不良后果。近来前自由党总理克雷蒂安也曾提议取消华为高管的引渡听审，以结束这场外交争端，与中国重修于好。

Former ambassador to China John McCallum suggests it would not be a happy outcome if Meng got extradited. Now Former Liberal Prime Minister Jean Chrétien proposed to cancel Huawei executive’s extradition hearing to end a bitter dispute with China.

麦家廉和克雷蒂安一行人认为，特鲁多和司法部长大卫•拉梅特里对此案的人为干涉是解决当前危机的关键。如果加拿大可以释放孟，中国也会释放两名被拘禁加拿大人质，让他们愉快地与家人团聚。与此同时，加拿大农场主们也不会因其困境而对特鲁多心怀不满。

McCallum and Chretien's entourage believe that Trudeau and Justice Minister David Lamettri's step in Meng's case is the key to resolve the current crisis. If Canada can release Meng, the two Canadians can return home, happily reuniting with their families.  At the same time, Canadian farmers would no longer hold their grudge towards Trudeau government for their predicament.



但他们所期望的加国司法部长在孟晚舟案件中所扮演的角色却是干涉司法，而这也正是加国前司法部长王州迪拒绝为兰万灵提供帮助的原因所在。一旦结束孟晚舟的引渡程序，加拿大将放弃遵守国际条约的义务。同时它成为中国专制政府的帮凶，与其民主盟友的美国为敌。

But what they expect Lamettri to do for Meng is what former Justice Minister Jody RB allegedly refused to do for SNC -- interfering justice. By ending the extradition process, Canada will enter China's camp and turn against the U.S. -- its democratic ally, abandoning its obligation to comply with an international treaty.

毫无疑问，短视的解决方案有损于加国长期利益。如果特鲁多政府按照中国意愿行事，加拿大将显得软弱可欺，面临强权政权的虐待和欺凌束手就范，毫无回击之力。如此一枚软柿绝得不到中国的尊重，反之遭到其鄙视。这会助长中国的进一步的挑衅行为，为其他独裁政权的霸权行径树立榜样。

Undoubtedly, short-sighted solutions will do long-term damages to the country. If Trudeau government takes the course Beijing is demanding, Canada will look weak and anxious, succumbing to the abuse and bully of a thug regime. Beijing will disrespect Canada for its weakness and further escalate its provocations, setting up an excellent example for other authoritarian regimes to follow.



加拿大当然不会在中国政府面前成为一只唯唯诺诺的可怜虫。外交部长方惠兰表示：“当需要加拿大遵守引渡条约时，如果加国在压力面前有违众望，那么这将成为一个危险的先例。”

Canada, of course, will not become a coward beholden to Beijing. "It would be a dangerous precedent indeed for Canada to alter its behavior when it comes to horning an extradition treaty in response to external pressure," said Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland.

尊重国际条约和法律，以及其在维护民主原则方面所持的坚定立场一向是加国引以为豪的优良特征。特鲁多政府将加国的这种优势提到了新的高度。 我曾在先前的一篇文章中写道：“作为一名华裔加国人士，我为加拿大坚韧地捍卫民主法治的精神而点赞。”

Canada's strength lies in its respect for international treaties and laws and its firm stance in protecting democratic principles. The Trudeau government has taken that strength to the next level. "As a Chinese Canadian, I am proud of Canada's remarkable persistence in defending our democratic rule of law," I wrote back then.

事实上，包括克雷蒂安和麦家廉在内的全球各界人士都应从这种坚韧性中获得慰籍和鼓励。

The nations of the world — Chretien and McCallum, notwithstanding — can take inspiration and comfort from that strength.