The king of Yelang, a minor kingdom from the Han dynasty period in southwest China, is a figure in mythology known for his exaggerated sense of power. This legend highlights the ruler’s delusional view of his and his kingdom’s importance, illustrating a broader message about provincial arrogance.
This myth is relevant to Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly’s recent visit to China. Joly faced a choice: to address the practical issues causing friction between China and Canada or to mistakenly believe that Canada’s input on global and regional security would influence Beijing.
Mélanie Joly’s Diplomatic Mission in China Reflects the Challenge of Balancing Realistic Expectations with Provincial Arrogance
Joly’s visit might reflect this provincial arrogance. Given the strained relations between Canada and China, partly due to allegations of Chinese election interference, focusing on mending these relations would be a sensible approach. However, any discussion on global security issues might have been futile, as Canada’s traditional “middle power” diplomacy no longer effectively addresses major global conflicts.
The rise of major powers and the decline of multilateral institutions have lessened the impact of Canada’s diplomatic efforts. Canada’s traditional approach is ill-suited for the complicated international environment shaped by powerful nations and growing nationalism.
Canada’s limited influence in the Indo-Pacific region means it lacks the authority to impact China’s strategic decisions. Therefore, any attempt by Joly to influence China on global security issues would likely have been disregarded.
Accepting Canada’s diminished role in global security is a tough reality but necessary for effectively pursuing national interests. Hopefully, Joly used her Beijing visit to focus on pressing bilateral matters without falling into the trap of overestimating Canada’s influence.
