PROPAGANDA WE'RE EXPECTED TO STOMACH

We can start with the premise for the visit, as articulated by Prime Minister Trudeau himself. “A strong relationship with China is essential to creating jobs, strengthening the middle class, and growing the Canadian economy.” This is of course the kind of boilerplate that anyone should be capable of recognizing as hogwash on methamphetamines, but never mind that. Let’s not even entertain any speculation about how loudly President Xi Jinping and his ministers will laugh at Trudeau’s comical claim that a “closer relationship” will mean “more opportunity to hold regular, frank dialogue on human rights issues like good governance, freedom of speech, and the rule of law.” Under Xi’s tyranny, Beijing has dropped all pretence that it is on some long march to the rule of law and democracy. But let’s not dwell on that.