They are taking action against canada because canada arrested one of their execs at the behest of the US. It's basic international politics that everyone understands. It's not about sending a message to small countries. It isn't even about sending a message to canada. It's about sending a message to the US. Just like canada arresting the chinese exec was the US sending a message to China.

When significant powers want to send each other messages without escalating to full out war, they use smaller satellite states to deliver their messages. This is what happened during the cold war between the Soviets and the US. It's what's happening between the US and China.

If china or the US or russia or any major power wanted to send a message to small countries, they'd do so directly. Like we do with canada or China does with north korea or russia does with the smaller ex-soviet nations.

> Just like canada arresting the chinese exec was the US sending a message to China

If the American (or, I'd guess, Canadian) foreign policy arm had its way, this arrest wouldn't have happened. Unfortunately, rule of law. An independent prosecutor issued warrants which were confirmed by a court and executed by police.

The concept of independent agencies doesn't exist outside a small number of countries. It can be difficult for an elite in Beijing to believe the American president has no power to halt the proceedings against Huawei's CFO. This is, at its core, the mis-understanding. Not Cold War proxy war dynamics.

The arrest happened because of the change in foreign policy concerning china by Trump. It's meant to send a message and apply pressure on the chinese and on iran. This has nothing to do with the rule of law no more than north koreans arresting christian evangelists and tourists is about the rule of law.

There is no misunderstanding. Everyone involved knows exactly what is going on. It's international politics. The only question is how this is resolved. Will it escalate or will the US and china achieve a compromise?

I agree, you even look at some of the replies to this comment. The fact that Donald trump himself is under FBI investigation or that this would probably of happen regardless of Trump changing his plan on Iran sanction seems lost. That being said you wouldn't want to live in a place where politics drove laws in the way people think it does.

Seems more like classic divide and rule, to me.

I really wish we would take a reciprocal foreign policy. For every one of our people they detain without legit cause, we do the same.

You really wish random people had to sit in jail due to a political and trade wars between two superpowers? Do you volunteer to sit in jail as one of the first victims?

There are plenty of legitimate pressure points. The CPC elites value sending their children to Western countries for education, frequently under pseudonyms. Stop giving them visas, or allow it but make sure the Chinese public knows.

Beyond enforcement of multilateral sanctions (especially the NK ones), the US and Canada (and the UK) could make it much more difficult for the elites to move assets out of China. Ban anonymous ownership of property, and start enforcing Chinese currency-control laws on government-connected individuals. Sure, President Xi might be able to evade Chinese law in China, but good luck convincing the Southern District of New York to look the other way.

Any ethical concerns aside, why would we break our own laws when enforcing them (and China's as written) is much more effective?

They don't give a shit about their people. We do. That's not going to end well.

> They don't give a shit about their people

Beijing doesn’t care about the average Chinese. But its elites? It cares as much as any other government.

Eh, I can buy it. But how many Chinese elites can we find to arrest in North America?

Aside from the fact that it's morally reprehensible...

Agree on its reprehensibility. Detaining random foreign nationals isn’t a game I want us to play.

No you don't, because then it makes it seems like you laws are arbitrary and can be swayed by politics. It seems like a good idea now but look around at how abusive that ability can be.

Don't speak for me, I think it is fair to treat others in the same manner that they treat you. If it only applies to foreign nationals, that puts pressure on them to act appropriately.

For example, we should be subjecting Americans to the TSA bullshit that they dole on others.