The Pillar Society: Charles Burton

Welcoming the Dragon

China: A broader strategic partner for Canada or an opportunity for an experienced adversary playing the long game to take advantage? Is China a legitimate economic counterbalance or are we facilitating the intelligence operations of a country that is a leading source of foreign interference in Canada?

Join us for an intriguing discussion with Charles Burton, a renowned China expert and Senior Fellow at Sinopsis.cz, a global China-focused think tank based in Prague, Czech Republic. Mr. Burton is a frequent commentator on Chinese affairs in newspapers, radio and television. He was a Counsellor at the Canadian Embassy in China between 1991-1993 and 1998-2000, and had previously worked at Canada’s signals intelligence agency, the Communications Security Establishment. Mr. Burton has published extensively on China’s domestic affairs and international relations including his most recent book The Beaver and the Dragon: how China out-maneuvered Canada's diplomacy, security and sovereignty.

Presented by Pillar Society Speakers Series