Key Takeaways
- China is seeking to strengthen its relationship with Canada and peel it away from its longtime ally, the United States.
- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s trip to China is seen as an opportunity for both countries to forge new partnerships and reduce Canada’s economic reliance on the American market.
- China’s state media is calling on the Canadian government to adopt a foreign policy of "strategic autonomy" and distance itself from the United States.
- The two countries have had a strained relationship in recent years, with Canada imposing tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles and China retaliating with its own tariffs on Canadian exports.
- Chinese experts believe that the US military intervention in Venezuela and Trump’s statements on Greenland could be used as common ground to strengthen ties with Canada.
Introduction to the Situation
As Prime Minister Mark Carney arrives in China, his hosts see an opportunity to strengthen their relationship with Canada and potentially peel it away from its longtime ally, the United States. China’s state media is calling on the Canadian government to adopt a foreign policy of "strategic autonomy" and distance itself from the United States. This comes as the US has imposed tariffs on Canadian exports and made statements that have been perceived as aggressive, including suggesting that Canada could become the 51st state. Canada has long been one of America’s closest allies, geographically and otherwise, but Beijing is hoping to capitalize on the current tensions to improve its own relationship with Canada.
Canada’s Relationship with the US
The Canadian government has been seeking to revive its relationship with China, which has been marked by acrimony for over six years. The downturn in relations started with the arrest of a Chinese tech executive in late 2018 at America’s request and was fueled by the Trudeau government’s decision to impose a 100% tariff on Chinese-made electric vehicles. China has retaliated with its own tariffs on Canadian exports, including canola, seafood, and pork. The US has also been pressuring Canada to follow its lead in imposing tariffs on China, which has led to tensions between the two countries. Canadian officials have said that they expect Carney’s trip to produce progress on trade, but not a definitive elimination of any tariffs.
China’s Strategy
China’s state media has been calling on the Canadian government to reflect on the root causes of the setbacks in bilateral relations over the past few years and to uphold its strategic autonomy in handling China-related issues. The state-owned China Daily newspaper wrote in an editorial that if Canada chooses to subject its China policy to the will of Washington again in the future, it will only render its previous efforts to mend ties with Beijing in vain. The government-run Global Times said that perhaps it was the heavy price paid for blindly following the US in imposing high tariffs on China that awakened Ottawa’s sense of strategic autonomy. Chinese experts believe that the US military intervention in oil-rich Venezuela and Trump’s statements on Greenland could be used as common ground to strengthen ties with Canada.
Potential for Cooperation
Chinese experts said that the two countries could find common ground over the US military intervention in oil-rich Venezuela and Trump’s subsequent statements that Greenland, a Danish territory, should come under US control. They also predicted that Trump’s move against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro would strengthen the strategic autonomy of Latin American countries to resist possible American interference in their affairs. However, China remains realistic about how far countries such as Canada could swing in its direction, given their fears of China’s growing economic and military clout as well as their deep historical and cultural ties with the United States.
Challenges and Limitations
Despite the potential for cooperation, there are still significant challenges and limitations to the relationship between Canada and China. The two countries have major differences over China’s booming exports and the threat they pose to employment in Canada, as well as over human rights and Taiwan. Additionally, Canada’s dependence on US economic and military strength will continue to be a factor in its relationships with other countries. While Trump’s pressure on traditional US partners may open up some space for China to expand relations with them, American allies will need to balance that with their continuing dependence on US economic and military strength.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the trip by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to China is seen as an opportunity for both countries to forge new partnerships and reduce Canada’s economic reliance on the American market. However, the relationship between the two countries is complex and influenced by a range of factors, including the US-China trade war, human rights, and historical and cultural ties. While there is potential for cooperation, there are also significant challenges and limitations that will need to be addressed in order for the relationship to move forward.
