Foreign Affairs Committee on May 2nd, 2017

[The Chair, Liberal, Bob Nault]

Thank you, Mr. Saini.

We'll go to Madam Laverdière.

[Hélène Laverdière, NDP, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The member speaks in Chinese.]

[John McCallum]

[The witness speaks in Chinese.]

We have three languages.

[Hélène Laverdière, NDP, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

It's very nice to have you here today. Thank you, xie xie, for your quite extensive presentation. In fact, you touched on most of the points I wanted to raise, as well as Mr. Kent, on human rights and consular affairs, but I still have a few points I'd like to raise.

[John McCallum]

Okay.

[Hélène Laverdière, NDP, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

First, what's your perspective on China's current attitude towards North Korea?

[John McCallum]

That is a very good question. Since you have asked it in English, perhaps I am supposed to answer it in English as well.

I'm happy to do that.

Obviously, North Korea is a huge security concern for the whole world. It is also true that China is the principle supplier of materials, goods, and services to North Korea. China has more influence over North Korea by far than any other country. China doesn't have complete influence over North Korea. North Korea tends to march to its own drummer, but China has an influence. The issue is what steps China might take.

We have certainly been monitoring this very carefully. I have been in touch with my counterpart, Canada's ambassador to Korea. Events of recent weeks have been of great concern.

It's not really my area, because I'm in China, not Korea. I would just say that my sense is that China is in the process of taking stronger actions vis-à-vis North Korea. I think they were already on that path before the interaction with the U.S. government. My sense is that the two presidents meeting has tended to push China to be more proactive in terms of trying to rein in North Korea, but I think they were already on that path.

It remains an area that is difficult to predict, and of huge concern, obviously, to the people of South Korea but also to the whole world.

[Hélène Laverdière, NDP, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Thank you very much.

People always say that foreign languages interfere with each other. The few words of Mandarin I learned probably led me to English. In fact, In this case we are talking about a second language and not a foreign one.

[John McCallum]

Yes.

[Hélène Laverdière, NDP, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

In your presentation you said that you held a seminar or meeting in China on LGBTQ rights, that is to say the rights of lesbians, gays, bisexual, trans and queer people.

[John McCallum]

Yes.

[Hélène Laverdière, NDP, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Could you tell us a bit more about the situation of LGBTQ communities in China?

[John McCallum]

Thank you very much.

In Shanghai, I had a very good conversation with three people who held demonstrations over the past nine years. They are coming up to their 10th year. Canada supported this group over the years, and wants to continue to do so.

The problem is the same as in Canada, but it is perhaps more difficult in China. The major problem for a gay person is announcing this to his family. It is particularly difficult in China.

Since I wanted to increase our support, I had a conversation with one of our members, Rob Oliphant, who spoke to a Chinese friend of his. They will soon be having a Skype conversation. The possibility has also been raised that a Canadian may go to China to discuss the situation with these people, and possibly provide advice. Mr. Oliphant has expressed interest in working on this.

[Hélène Laverdière, NDP, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Perfect.

My next question is much more technical.

If you include the consulates, how many missions do we have in China currently?

[John McCallum]

We have four; one in Hong Kong, and one in Shanghai, Chongqing and Guangzhou.

[Hélène Laverdière, NDP, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Fine.

[John McCallum]

The Hong Kong consulate differs from the others somewhat, but if we include it the total is four.

[Hélène Laverdière, NDP, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

To get back to political matters, you spoke—and I appreciated this—of global or planetary issues we need to discuss with China and Africa, for instance, to see what we can do.

China has seemed to withdraw somewhat from the Syrian file. China has abstained from certain votes.

Have you had the opportunity of raising these issues with the Chinese authorities?

Do you know their point of view on the situation in the Middle East, or will this be raised later?

[John McCallum]

I have been there for five weeks and have had quite a few meetings, but I have not yet had the opportunity to discuss that.

This abstention regarding Syria is a very good gesture I think, as our Minister of Foreign Affairs has said; she will be in China over the next few months to discuss these issues. I may also have this opportunity.

[Hélène Laverdière, NDP, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Perfect, thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bob Nault]

We'll go to Mr. Sidhu, please.

[Jati Sidhu, Liberal, Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Good morning, Mr. McCallum.

[John McCallum]

Good morning.

[Jati Sidhu, Liberal, Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC]

It's a pleasure to have you appear in front of the committee.

Also, congratulations on learning Mandarin within five weeks.

[John McCallum]

That's an overstatement. I say I have 10 hours a week of Mandarin, which means I'm making progress from a very low base.