Hollywood actor [and Tibet activist] Richard Gere says Canada should not pivot to a stronger relationship with China just because of its currently strained relationship with the United States.

He says he is worried about that strain but says that won’t last forever and it is problematic for Canada to make “corrections” in its relationship with China as a result of the issues with the U.S.

...

"If you look what's happened around the world with the arrangements the Chinese have made, [it is clear that] they haven't turned on well for anybody," Gere said. "I'd be very, very sceptical of these arrangements."

...

Gere was on Parliament Hill on what is known as Tibet lobby day, an annual event that advocates for the rights and freedoms of Tibetans.

Gere’s philanthropy work includes advocating for human rights in Tibet and supporting the Tibetan independence movement.

The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of Tibet and the head of Tibetan Buddhism who was forced into exile in 1959 after an uprising by Chinese troops.

Liberal MP James Maloney, whose Ontario constituency is home to the Tibetan Canadian Cultural Centre, welcomed Gere in a statement before question period today, before most MPs gave the actor a standing ovation.

...

In the video, Gere warns of

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[–] AGM@lemmy.ca 4 points 18 hours ago

Who cares about Richard Gere's opinion and thinks foreign policy should be based on it? It’s not like he's some geopolitical expert, or even Canadian. This is just propaganda. It is of zero substance.

[–] lemmy_outta_here@lemmy.world 14 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I am not a china fan but it does have one important advantage over the US right now: China is not actively threatening us.

If the americans ever wake up and hang trump from a lamppost, we could pivot back. a lot of stuff would have to change.

ideally, canada should be friends with other democracies. unfortunately, many other democracies are in the process of electing far-right whackadoos and mini-trumps. we don’t have an abundance of choices.

[–] Scotty@scribe.disroot.org 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

unfortunately, many other democracies are in the process of electing far-right whackadoos and mini-trumps. we don’t have an abundance of choices.

You are concerned about the "far-right whackadoos and mini-trumps" but are fine with collaborating with China over an alleged lack of choice?

That's not the right way. We should improve democracies rather than collaborating with just another country that has turned to fascist rule

Addition:

Your claim that "China is not actively threatening us" is not true. It may not be that obvious, but the threat is here.

CSIS director warns that China and Russia continue to target Canada

[–] lemmy_outta_here@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago (2 children)

You are right about china, and until Trump started with the “51st state” by “economic coercion” i was totally opposed to cooperation with china. i still am, if i am being honest: i should have said “the only advantage”.

as for targeting canada - i am indeed worried about russian and chinese interference in our political system. however, us interference is just as bad. maga is spreading in canada with US dollars driving the advance. we are awash in american fake news and disinformation. americans spy on everything we do. all of our government data is hosted on azure cloud, and microsoft has admitted to european parliament that it has to obey us laws first - that is why germany is moving away from MS to other providers. we should do the same.

I would be delighted to build closer relationships with functioning democracies, but they are getting fewer and harder to rely on. meloni is a fascist, as is orban and erdogan - and that is just within nato! even japan just went far-right. for now we are stuck doing business with both china and the us. among the countries rated as « full democracies » by the economist, the largest economies are germany and uk; we already cooperate and trade with them.

i’m just saying that i feel like the threat at our doorstep is scarier than the threat across the ocean.

[–] kent_eh@lemmy.ca 2 points 21 hours ago

however, us interference is just as bad. maga is spreading in canada with US dollars driving the advance. we are awash in american fake news and disinformation.

This has been ongoing for our entire lifetimes, and the lifetimes of our parents.

Every American movie, TV show, magazine and song has been part of that creeping spread of American exceptionalism (and imperialism).

It's just been slightly more subtle than Trump.

[–] Scotty@scribe.disroot.org -1 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

China is not far right? You are concerned over 'fascists' like Orban (do some research over his ties to China) but you'd see China as a current option?

This doesn't add up. As I said, we should improve our democracies. China is definitely not among the options.

[–] lemmy_outta_here@lemmy.world 2 points 19 hours ago

China is not an option, but a reality. I wasn’t consulted when people started buying massive amounts of cheap crap from china. Now, we are reliant on them for many things. Of course i agree that we should deal preferentially deal with democracies. Your strawman arguments are tiresome.

[–] lemmy_outta_here@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

Something to warm your heart: https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/article/saab-can-match-american-made-f-35s-to-fulfil-canadian-needs-swedish-deputy-prime-minister/

[–] kbal@fedia.io 10 points 2 days ago (3 children)

Okay, but if it's not the USA or China then which imperial power does he think Canada should become subservient to next?

[–] cyborganism@piefed.ca 1 points 18 hours ago

La France!

Allons enfants de la paTRIIIIeuh

Le jour de gloire EEEEEST arrivé!

/s ;)

[–] kent_eh@lemmy.ca 1 points 21 hours ago

We shouldn't be exclusively tied to any single country.

[–] ILikeBoobies@lemmy.ca 5 points 1 day ago

Which one has the military power to prevent US invasion*