LILLEY: Communist Party of China paper trolls return to Michael Kovrig’s Twitter

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The Communist Party of China has not finished trying to intimidate former hostage Michael Kovrig and, by extension, all of Canada. On Friday, a senior executive at a state newspaper criticized Kovrig for his first tweet since he was released two weeks ago.

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Kovrig wrote a single word in his tweet, rather he posted a simple graphic of a paper dove flying out of a cage. The image, Kovrig’s first tweet in three years, was met with expressions of support from Canadians across the political spectrum.

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There were also some accounts of trolls from China mocking him and a direct message posted in English by a Chinese media executive.

Hu Xijin, editor-in-chief of the Global Times newspaper, a spokesman for the Chinese Communist Party, was behind that tweet.

“Enjoy your freedom, but don’t insult the dove of peace, please,” Hu tweeted.

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I would say that Hu should not insult Kovrig, nor the Canadians from coast to coast, considering that he is nothing more than a parrot to the dictators of Beijing.

Global Times is the newspaper that claimed that Kovrig and his fellow hostage Michael Spavor were being held on serious rather than political charges. The newspaper maintained that their trials were conducted under the rule of law, a laughable claim to anyone who has investigated the Chinese justice system.

This newspaper, which is part of the People’s Daily newspaper group, was also the publication to which the “exclusive” was given when the two men were released.

“Exclusive: Two Canadians Plead Guilty, Granted Medical Bail Before Leaving China – Source,” their Sept. 26 article said.

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The newspaper’s story reads like a press release issued by the Foreign Ministry in Beijing and refers to the Trudeau government as a “lap dog” for Washington. This is the same newspaper that warned Canadians not to vote for Erin O’Toole and the Conservatives because doing so would worsen relations with Beijing.

The Global Times, like the People’s Daily, is seen as an official newspaper of the Chinese government and regarded as a propaganda publication.

Since the release of Kovrig and Spavor, the Chinese embassy in Canada has taken a softer tone. Where once the ambassador issued regular warnings and rebuked Canadian media criticizing his government that he kidnapped, now most communications support improving the bilateral relationship.

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A recent series of tweets from the embassy account detailed the increase in trade, specifically the increase in Canadian exports to China, while another highlighted the size and strength of the Chinese-Canadian community. An opinion piece published in Vancouver Business by Ambassador Cong Peiwu stated that China is poised to lift the world out of the pandemic and into prosperity.

All of these positive comments should be taken with a grain of salt, while Hu’s comments should be remembered. China remains ready and willing to kidnap Canadians, or any other foreign national from their soil, if they don’t get their way.

The Chinese government wants to use the end of the Meng / Michaels saga to achieve an improved and changed relationship with Ottawa. Improving relations with China would be a good thing for both countries, but not as long as Beijing continues to believe that hostage diplomacy is a legitimate tool they can use.

Until Canadians in China are no longer under threat, Ottawa should be wary of Beijing.