Trudeau warns of disinformation and extremism, criticizes China in speech to Dutch politicians

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke to the Dutch Parliament on Thursday where he warned that disinformation and extremism were serious threats to the health of democracy.

After Trudeau celebrated the friendship between Canada and the Netherlands, he warned that the values that were fought for in WW2 were now at risk.

"It’s not just conspiracy theorists and marginalized, angry people online," said the prime minister.  "It’s state actors, too, using disinformation, propaganda, and cyberwarfare to harm our economies, our democracies, and undermine people’s faith in the principles that hold us together."

Despite refusing to name the state actor who was responsible for this attack on our core principles, Trudeau took an unusually hawkish stance on the question of China.

"We cannot pretend that China isn't there, [and] just cross our arms and ignore it. It is too important a player in our economies right now."

Trudeau then elaborated on his strategy concerning China: Western countries should continue to work with Beijing on trade and climate change, but should also be willing to criticize their human rights abuses.

This was an odd statement from a prime minister who failed to recognize that Beijing was committing genocide against their Uighur population.

Trudeau also expressed his concern over Chinese aggression towards democracy in Hong Kong and towards Taiwan. This was Trudeau's most robust speech on the actions of the Chinese Communist Party.

Trudeau is currently on a European trip that will conclude with the climate summit in Glasgow in the United Kingdom. This weekend, he will also visit Italy for the G20 meeting.