Rex Murphy: Certainly the decision to extradite must first go to the courts. But to oblige the court’s decision, should that be negative for Ms. Meng, will not be the province of a judge but that of the justice minister acting with the discretionary powers that are the minister’s in this case. Which is to underline that this is both a legal and a political matter. It is a contest between states. It’s rule of law when in the courts; politics when it leaves.
And when two Canadian citizens are staring at incarceration in a Chinese jail, and another is facing near-imminent execution, might it not occur to some at the highest levels of government that to hint that the rigorous talk of “rule of law” is not all; that another dimension for resolution is, at least, a candle at the far end of the tunnel?
Who would be the vehicle for such a thought? Certainly not the prime minister or foreign minister. Perhaps an ambassador. Could he have been encouraged to float that alternative, or even instructed to offer a little creative ambiguity that might thaw the current impasse? Too subtle a theory? Very likely. But we are told so often that diplomacy is all subtlety and vague signals, cryptic smoke signals and hushed whispers. And theatrical walk-backs when needed or convenient.
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