Canada and China

The current tension between Canada and China is not about Meng Wanzhou or Huawei.  It is not about trade or the rule of law.  It is certainly not a discussion between equals on matters of principle.

China is using Canada to tell the rest of the world, "If you mess with us, we will hurt you."  China can afford to sacrifice Canadian trade in order to make a point to the EU or Belt and Road partners.

Canada will have to release Meng and admit Huawei, not because that is the right thing to do, but because the schoolyard bully has already taken our lunch money and we want to avoid a beating.  The longer it takes us to figure out the balance of power in the real world, the worse the beating will be.