Conservative MP Michael Chong rises during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Oct. 18, 2023. (Screenshot from ParlVu)
Conservative MP and foreign affairs critic Michael Chong met with Taiwan’s Trade Representative Jen-Ni Yang on May 18 to discuss Canada–Taiwan economic ties and diplomatic relations.
Chong’s May 18–21 trip to Taiwan also includes planned meetings with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Chen Ming-chi, as well as additional officials at the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei.
“MP Chong discussed several items with Minister Yang, including: Canada-Taiwan trade and investment, including a potential Canada-Taiwan trade arrangement; Canadian imports of steel from Taiwan; Taiwan’s application to the CPTPP [Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership],” according to a May 18 release from Chong.
Chong added that he and Yang also discussed Canada–Taiwan relations more broadly.
Taiwan applied to join the CPTPP in 2021 about one week after China. However, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) opposes Taiwan taking part in international organizations as a separate nation since it regards Taiwan as part of its territory.
Ottawa has never formally endorsed Taiwan being accepted to join the free trade agreement, which currently consists of 12 member nations including Canada, Japan, Australia, the U.K., Mexico, Chile, Vietnam, and Malaysia.
China’s 2021 application to join the CPTPP has not yet been approved by members, which must approve accession of any new member via consensus.
Defying CCP’s Warning
Chong’s trip comes in defiance of a warning from the Chinese regime earlier this year that “any official engagement” would be “hurtful” to Canada–China relations. Beijing considers the democratic, self-ruled island nation a part of its territory.
Ahead of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to Beijing in January, Liberal MPs Helena Jaczek and Marie-France Lalonde cut short their trip to Taiwan, saying the decision was “informed by advice from” the Canadian government.
Chong responded in a May 17 statement by saying “Canada is a sovereign and independent country” and adding that “we do not take direction from a foreign government about where Canadian MPs can travel internationally, and where Royal Canadian Navy warships can transit in international waters.”
Sgro, who is the chair of the Canada-Taiwan Friendship Group in Parliament, also said earlier in May that the friendship between Canada and Taiwan is “priceless.”
“Protecting Canada’s diplomatic sovereignty means standing by our partners and refusing to allow external pressure to dictate our international engagement,” She said in a May 4 statement.
Canadian naval vessels have transited the Taiwan Strait roughly a dozen times in the past decade, often alongside U.S. Navy ships, something the CCP has called a “provocation.” Taiwan has said the strait is international waters and it upholds freedom of navigation.
Prior to his arrival, Chong said his visit was focused on demonstrating “solidarity with a democracy at the front lines of intimidation” by the Chinese regime as well as to “assert Canadian sovereignty” despite the late April warning from Beijing.
“To remain silent and comply in the face of intimidation is to accommodate this behaviour, further embolden authoritarianism, and further weaken democracy,” Chong wrote May 17.
After Chong’s arrival on May 18, the communist regime repeated its warning about Canadian engagement with Taiwan, with a spokesperson for China’s embassy in Canada saying it opposes any countries having formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
Canada–Taiwan Ties
Ottawa officially recognizes the People’s Republic of China as the sole government of China in its “One-China” policy, “but neither endorses nor challenges” the government’s position on Taiwan. However, Canada maintains unofficial economic and cultural relations with Taiwan.
Taiwan’s ambassador to Canada Harry Tseng told Radio-Canada this past February that a trade deal between Ottawa and Taipei has been ready to sign since April of last year and has nothing left to negotiate. However, he said that it appears Ottawa is delaying finalizing the deal as it seeks closer relations with China.
Carney said in February that his government isn’t “afraid” of having trade relations with Taiwan.
“We have trade relations with Taiwan. But we’re focusing on strengthening our trade relations with China. We’re making a lot of progress,” Carney told reporters.
The Canadian Press, Olivia Gomm, and Noé Chartier contributed to this report.