Not only has dialogue on climate change between theater-level military commanders stalled, so have cross-border crime and drug-trafficking exchanges.
Read more: China suspends dialogue with US, sanctions Pelosi for visit to Taiwan
With such an “opaque” status, it could be difficult to predict what’s next for Canada’s diplomatic relations with China, says Josephine Chiu-Duke, a professor in the Department of Asian Studies at the University of British Columbia (UBC). “I didn’t expect the Chinese regime to act in such a brutal, violent way,” he told Global News. Story continues below ad For Canada, “we can’t really predict China’s actions because their system is just so opaque,” he said. “In the long run, we just don’t know what other actions China will take.” However, at least for now, Chiu-Duke is not seeking any change in relations between Canada’s relationship with the People’s Republic of China. “For now, I don’t see any particular change of course in terms of the relationship between Canada and the People’s Republic of China,” he said. 2:04 China launches ballistic missiles near Taiwan in major military drills after Pelosi’s visit China fires ballistic missiles near Taiwan in major military drills after Pelosi’s visit In response to what China described as Pelosi’s “evil” and “provocative” actions since her visit to Taiwan earlier in the week, the country’s Communist government also announced sanctions on her and her family. In addition, China has launched ballistic missiles near Taiwan in major military exercises. Story continues below ad “I think it’s important for China to understand that its behavior is irresponsible,” André Laliberté, a professor at the University of Ottawa’s School of Political Studies, told Global News. “And, I think Canada needs to stand firm and say it’s not acceptable. I think it is the right of the Canadian government to speak frankly to China and say that its behavior is irresponsible,” he said, also noting the importance of Canada maintaining close coordination with allies.
Read more: US-China diplomatic tension casts doubt on global climate progress
US-China ties have always been closely watched by Canada, Margaret McCuaig-Johnston, a senior fellow at the University of Ottawa’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, told Global News. He called the suspension of the dialogue a “gross overreaction.” Going forward, Canada must put in place a comprehensive plan to regulate relations with both China and Taiwan, McCuaig-Johnston said. “We need to outline the new, more aggressive China we see and identify ways in which our government plans to manage that relationship and also outline how we will work with and support Taiwan. This Indo-Pacific strategy will shape how we relate to China and Taiwan and other countries in the region.” Trending Stories
Air Canada is rejecting requests for passenger compensation, citing staff and safety shortages Actress Anne Heche in hospital but ‘stable’ after car crash at home in Los Angeles
4:19 Taiwan criticizes Chinese military drills and cyber attacks while Beijing denies wrongdoing after Pelosi trip
Charles Barton, a senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute and a former counselor at the Canadian embassy in China, would like to see an Indo-Pacific policy in line with European allies, along with Australia and the US Story continues below ad “We really need to put this issue on the government’s agenda, make some decisions and state exactly where Canada stands in terms of Taiwan’s defense and China’s activities,” he told Global News. Without a Canadian ambassador in Beijing since Dominic Burton left in December of last year, Canada’s voice in China is currently “muted,” according to Burton. “In terms of getting access to the Chinese regime and being taken seriously, you really need someone at an ambassadorial level,” he said.
Read more: Taiwan says China’s military drills appear to simulate attack on self-ruled island
On Friday, China’s foreign ministry said it had summoned Beijing-based Canadian diplomat Jim Nickell for Canada’s participation in reaffirming the country’s commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and beyond. A statement from G7 foreign ministers was issued on Wednesday to outline their concerns over recent “threatening actions by the People’s Republic of China, particularly live-fire exercises and financial coercion, which risk escalating unnecessarily.” “There is no justification for using a visit as a pretext for aggressive military activity in the Taiwan Strait,” the statement said. Story continues below ad Soon after, Nickel was summoned on Thursday by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng and called on Canada to “immediately correct its mistakes” on the Taiwan issue or “bear all the consequences,” according to a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement released on Friday. “Any conspiracy to accept and support separatist forces for ‘Taiwan independence’ is doomed to failure,” the statement said. “Any consequences arising from this G7 statement will not only damage the relationship between China and the G7 countries, but will also damage China itself,” said UBC’s Chiu-Duke, noting that the country has access to products and food from Canada, including wheat. “Canada has always claimed that we support liberal democracy and human rights, so the fact that the foreign minister has joined the other G7 countries in issuing this statement already demonstrates our firm commitment to this kind of principle. The country should not bow down to a bully,” he said. 2:52 China conducts live-fire ballistic missile drills off Taiwan coast in response to Pelosi visit China conducts live-fire ballistic missile drills off Taiwan coast in response to Pelosi visit Canada’s relations with China have had a murky past. In December 2018, at the request of the US, Canada arrested Meng Wanzhou, a senior executive of the Chinese company Huawei Technologies. Wanzhou faced charges related to US sanctions against Iran. Story continues below ad After her arrest in late 2018, two Canadians working in China, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor were arrested. In 2021, in closed Chinese courts, both were convicted of espionage. The two Michaels, as they became known, were allowed by Beijing to fly home on September 25 after a deferred prosecution deal worked out by the US in Meng’s case allowed her release. “The kidnapping of the two Michaels is still, for many people, a very, very bitter memory,” Laliberté said.
Read more: China lashes out at Pelosi’s visit, but experts say Taiwanese are ‘thrilled’
Earlier this year, Canada’s International Trade Minister Mary Ng spoke with Taiwan’s Minister John Deng. The two agreed to begin talks on a possible foreign investment promotion and protection agreement between Canada and Taiwan — Canada’s sixth-largest trading partner in Asia — during the meeting. “This is a very high level. I think that shows Canada’s support for democracy,” McCuaig-Johnston said, noting that Canada’s ships have been sent through the Taiwan Strait and the country’s powerful diplomatic corps in Taipei. “I think it should be clear to Canadians that we need to stand with our allies. Canada must remain strong. We need to stand up to this kind of rhetoric and bullying,” he said. Story continues below ad — With files from Saba Aziz of Global News, Reuters and the Canadian Press © 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
