The Canadian government is moving towards closer ties with Beijing, as per reports from the Chinese government on a recent “frank” discussion on military matters with Canadian officials. This meeting, held in Canada on September 4, comes after a period of strained diplomacy and has sparked concerns among Conservative circles who oppose military collaboration with China.
China’s defense ministry disclosed that the two nations conducted their fifth defense coordination dialogue last week, a sentiment later confirmed by Canada’s Defense Department. The dialogue involved a comprehensive exchange of views on international and regional issues of common interest, with a commitment to enhancing practical exchanges and cooperation between the militaries of both countries.
Despite not engaging in any military exercises or cooperation with the People’s Liberation Army since 2018, Ottawa and Beijing resumed military talks after an eight-year hiatus, according to the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa. The Canadian Department of National Defense refrained from endorsing this characterization, stating that the meeting supported ongoing military-to-military communications at a functional level.
The Defense Department emphasized the government’s strategy of establishing “guardrails” in its relations with China, outlining specific areas for deeper cooperation and areas, including defense, where such cooperation would be avoided. However, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre expressed skepticism, citing the Prime Minister’s earlier remarks labeling China as Canada’s top global threat and criticizing the recent defense coordination talks with Beijing.
In a bid to foster improved dialogue, Canadian military officials expressed intentions in early 2024 to engage in more open communication with their Chinese counterparts. This initiative followed a 2023 incident involving a high-altitude balloon that had crossed American and Canadian airspace from China, carrying intelligence equipment that did not transmit information back to China.
Efforts to mend relations were hampered by Canada’s naval presence in the Taiwan Strait, as noted by China’s ambassador at the time, who called for mutual respect in diplomatic interactions.