In the '80s I had no problem supporting the position the then Conservative leaders Mulroney and Clark took in lecturing and pushing aggressively for change in places like South Korea and South Africa. It is nice then, even if with his wobbly understanding of constitutionality at home, to see Mr. Harper kicking some sand in the eye of China:

Prime Minister Stephen Harper warned Beijing on Friday not to threaten Canada on economic issues in the hope of getting his government to back off on human rights criticisms, including the case of Huseyin Celil, a Canadian imprisoned in China. China has more to lose if the economic relationship between the two countries becomes fractured, Mr. Harper suggested in a sharp rebuke to a senior Chinese diplomat.

But it would have also been good for him to also show some class and not turn it also into a political opportunity to dig at the Liberals - the Dion ads show, though, that is a little hard for him. Far better to stick to the "all Canadians oppose..." sort of line when speaking about international disputes.