The federal Conservative Party has accused the Liberal Party of succumbing to pressure from Beijing by cutting short a visit to Taiwan by some parliamentarians. Two Liberal Members of Parliament (MPs) stated they are departing Taiwan based on advice from the government. The delegation to Taiwan, comprising MPs from various parties, coincides with Prime Minister Mark Carney’s upcoming trip to China.
Prime Minister Carney is scheduled to undertake a four-day visit to China this week, aimed at resetting relations with the foreign nation. This visit marks the first by a Canadian prime minister since 2017 and will involve a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Michael Chong, the Conservative Party’s critic on foreign affairs, criticized the Liberals for yielding to Chinese influence. He expressed concern that the decision weakens Canada’s democracy and relationship with Taiwan.
Liberal MPs Helena Jaczek and Marie-France Lalonde, along with three Conservative MPs, were part of the Taiwan trip, which was sponsored by the Taiwanese government and involved meetings with Taiwanese officials.
The Liberal MPs emphasized the importance of avoiding confusion with Canada’s foreign policy, especially in light of the Prime Minister’s concurrent engagement in Beijing, which was confirmed recently.
The decision to cut the visit short comes amidst escalating tensions between China and Taiwan. China asserts sovereignty over Taiwan, a self-governing democracy, and has not ruled out military action.
While the Liberal MPs’ early departure was initially reported by the Globe and Mail, the Conservative MPs intend to complete the planned itinerary. They were not instructed to return home. The statement from Jaczek and Lalonde reiterated Canada’s adherence to the “One China” policy, recognizing Taiwan as part of China while maintaining unofficial relations with Taiwan.
Canadian parliamentarians frequently visit Taiwan, often with their travel sponsored by the Taiwanese government.