Sharon Mao / Special to The Globe and Mail
After five years as Canada’s top diplomat, John Baird has resigned as foreign affairs minister, paving the way for Michael Chong, a high-level public servant in charge of Canada’s embassy in Beijing, to take over from Mr. Baird.
Mr. Chan, the Canadian trade minister in the Howard government, was tapped by the Conservatives as ambassador last month, a post he holds in a cabinet of other top officials.
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Mr. Chong, who is in Beijing for a two-day visit, has been seen by diplomats as the natural choice. He has served as deputy minister of foreign affairs for six years and was responsible for signing deals with China, taking a lead role in negotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and serving as ambassador to Beijing until 2010.
“We’re very pleased to say that Michael Chong will be joining Mike Chan to fill this important role in the embassy in Beijing,” Mr. Baird said in a statement. “He combines a proven record of success, a desire to do what is best for Canada, and a skill set that our government believes will make a great diplomat.”
Prime Minister Harper’s office said in a statement that the changes come after he examined cabinet committee recommendations and had final decision.
Sources said Mr. Baird, now 55, has spoken to Chinese officials more than once who were not able to attend him at cabinet meetings to discuss the matter. Other appointments are being held up as Mr. Harper and his advisers scrutinize China’s relations with other parties.
With the Conservative government under pressure to maintain a soft policy policy toward China’s neighbours, Mr. Chong might have another opportunity to set a better tone.
Canada’s ambassador to China, former federal cabinet ministers Joe Clark and Peter MacKay, had been among the most vocal supporters of the Harper government at times when relations between Beijing and Ottawa were strained, leading to warnings about China’s behaviour, even though the Chinese president, Hu Jintao, and his government have been criticized by many Canadians for behaving in a “self-serving” fashion.
Although it’s been less than two years since Mr. Harper became prime minister, some fear that a softer tone could give Mr. Chong the chance to put his stamp on relations with China that have been rocky and strained in the past.
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