Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has asserted that there is currently no room for "rapprochement" with China due to President Xi Jinping's aggressive foreign policy. Trudeau acknowledged that when he first took office, he had hoped to establish a normal relationship with China and even work towards a free trade agreement. However, tensions escalated in 2018 when Canada arrested Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou on a US extradition request, resulting in China detaining two Canadians and imposing trade restrictions.
Trudeau made these remarks during an interview in Singapore, where he is focusing on strengthening trade ties with Asian countries and participating in the Group of 20 leaders' meeting. During his visit to Jakarta, he met with President Joko Widodo and expressed optimism about signing a free trade agreement with Indonesia within the next year. Additionally, Trudeau revealed plans to establish a trade gateway in Singapore as part of Canada's Indo-Pacific strategy, which aims to expand trade with Asian nations.
While Trudeau acknowledged the significance of China's economy and the need for engagement, he described the current Canada-China relationship as "probably stable" but in need of improvement. The controversial detention of Canadian citizens Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor had strained the bilateral ties, and although they were released in 2021, Trudeau believes efforts to repair the relationship have fallen short.
Addressing concerns about allegations of Chinese interference in Canada's federal elections, Trudeau announced that his government would be launching a public inquiry into the matter. He also stated that plans for a foreign agent registry, similar to those in the US and Australia, were underway, but the government is proceeding cautiously due to concerns about the potential misuse of such measures.
Trudeau highlighted the need for a more thoughtful and coordinated approach among Western countries when dealing with China. Instead of competing with each other for access to the Chinese market in unfriendly ways, he emphasized the importance of upholding Canadian values and principles while finding areas of cooperation, particularly in addressing global challenges like climate change.
In conclusion, Trudeau's remarks indicate that the current state of the Canada-China relationship remains challenging, with limited prospects for immediate reconciliation. However, he emphasized the importance of engagement while maintaining a principled and cautious approach to safeguard Canada's interests and values.