You don't want our money? Um, okay...

My eyes don't often stray too long in the business section of the newspaper.

My vision tends to go blurry as I glance over stock dividends and the latest merger between SuperDuperBank and IJustDon'tCareInsurance.

But one item did catch my eye the other day (as reported by David Ljunggren in a Reuters article). The upcoming Dalai Lama visit to Vancouver in September is causing some commotion on the other side of the Pacific Rim.

Canada has decided to give full citizenship to Tibet's most famous exile. The leaders of the country that sent him packing in the first place when they invaded in 1959 seem to be a little upset about this.

"China has a big market and we hope we can co-operate with all the countries in the world," remarked Zhang Weidong, political counselor at the Chinese embassy in Ottawa. "But certainly, if some troubles always appear or emerge within the bilateral relationship, then the relationship in other areas certainly will be hurt."

Asked later to explain his statement, he added "I don't think it's a threat. I'm just trying to make things clearer."

So... let me get this straight. Canada buys $22 billion dollars worth of goods more than China buys from Canada every year - which contributes to a dearth of business opportunities on our home front. Canadian firms, meanwhile, can't get a toe-hold in Chinese market because of rampant intellectual piracy and protectionism.

Exactly how could they punish us? And why would Canada simply roll over for the Asian superpower when we're so quick to condemn the overreaches of the one in our own backyard?

If giving the Dalai Lama citizenship is going to take a bite out of that $22 billion trade deficit, our elected representatives might consider just granting Canadian passports to the entire student leadership of the Tiananmen Square demonstration.

Let's see if they really want to put their money where their mouth is.

tags: China, Dalai Lama, Chinese government, trade deficit