Senator Questions Why China Shares Same Travel Risk Rating by Feds as UK and Belgium

People are shown at Pearson International Airport in Toronto on March 10, 2023. The Canadian Press/Nathan Denette

A Conservative senator has questioned Global Affairs about why China has the same risk level rating as Belgium and the UK when it comes to providing travel advice to Canadians.

“There are four risk levels,” said Sen. Michael MacDonald, pointing to the categories of travel advisories issued by the department on its website. “China is included with Belgium and the United Kingdom at level two.”

As first reported by Blacklock’s Reporter, MacDonald had directed his question to Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly when she and her deputy ministers appeared before the Senate foreign affairs committee on June 8.

“We’ve seen the conduct of China in regard to the two Michaels, why would China have a level two [risk factor]?” the senator asked, referencing how Beijing arbitrarily detained two Canadian citizens Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig back in 2018 for nearly three years.

To date, the Chinese Communist Party has been involved in hostage takings and arbitrary detention of more than 120 Canadians in China.

“I am [also] curious to see countries like Belgium and the United Kingdom and France at level two as opposed to level one,” MacDonald added. “How do we apply these criteria?”

The official government website states that level one means “taking normal security precautions,” while level two, three, and four advise Canadian travellers to “exercise a high degree of caution,” “avoid non-essential travel,” and “avoid all travel,” respectively.

‘Rarely Get Involved’

David Morrison, deputy foreign affairs minister, said the department’s travel advice “is composed of many different factors.”

“Some of it would be political risks that you mentioned; the two Michaels. Some of it is just plain criminality,” he replied.

“I certainly accept at times there will be counterintuitive results. I suspect as I say that could be because of petty theft, criminality, those kinds of risks to Canadians, rather than the kind of two Michaels’ risks.”

Visitors to China are advised that they should not “carry large sums of money,” to “securely lock the doors,” “be wary of accepting snacks,” and “be cautious when crossing streets,” according to Global Affairs’ site.

It includes warnings to visitors who have “familial or ethnic ties” to the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region that they “may be at risk of arbitrary detention.”

Meanwhile, travel advice for the UK warns Canadians to beware of terrorism threats such as “knife and vehicle attacks as well as explosions.” Travellers are also cautioned against violent crimes such as “mugging” and “sexual assaults.”

Morrison told MacDonald he could get back to the committee on the “formula” used to derive the risk rating.

Joly said the Liberal cabinet had played no role in China’s travel rating.

“This is a decision that is taken based on recommendations coming from the department, and therefore we rarely get involved into changing any form of advice coming from the department,” she said.

“Obviously because we want to make sure that we respect the independence of the process.”