HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA: CANADA TAKING LONG-TERM VIEW

C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 002454

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/27/2013
TAGS: PHUM CA UNHRC
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA: CANADA TAKING LONG-TERM VIEW

REF: STATE 240681

Classified By: Pol MC Brian Flora for reasons 1.5(b) and (d).


1. (C) Post delivered points contained reftel on August 26 to
Adrian Norfolk, Acting Director of DFAIT's Human Rights,
Humanitarian Affairs and International Women's Equality
Division. Norfolk said that Canada takes a long-term view
towards the human rights situation in China. While Canada
does not believe the human rights situation in China is good,
Norfolk said, the situation is at least better now than it
was 20 years ago. Canada is hopeful this long-term trend will
continue, Norfolk said.


2. (C) Planning is underway in Norfolk's division for two
upcoming human rights dialogues with Chinese officials, a
bilateral meeting in Ottawa in October and a trilateral
meeting with China and Norway in December. Norfolk said that
Canada and China have held bilateral meetings focusing on
human rights each year since 1997. Norfolk feels these
dialogues have been productive and that Chinese officials
have reacted well to Canadian concerns. He noted,
however,that unlike the U.S.,the Canadians have not set any
real benchmarks by which to measure China's progress on human
rights.


3. (C) With respect to a China resolution at next spring's
CHR session, Norfolk indicated it is too early to say whether
Canada would sponsor or co-sponsor. He noted that such
country-specific resolutions are an extremely sensitive
matter for Canada. Norfolk said that if such a resolution is
brought forward, Canada would oppose a no-action motion by
the Chinese, although he noted that China would likely
prevail on such a motion.

Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa

KELLY