The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada found in a national opinion poll earlier this year that only 16 percent of Canadians approve of a Chinese state-owned enterprise acquiring majority control of a Canadian company. Why do more than 70 percent oppose such an action? The torrent of commentary that emerged in the wake of the proposed CNOOC-Nexen acquisition provides a useful guide to arguments against Chinese SOE investment – and why the Canadian government should resist knee-jerk or populist responses.