The Carney administration is seeking to strengthen ties with Beijing, as indicated by the recent “frank” discussion on military matters between Chinese and Canadian officials. This meeting, reported by China to have occurred in Canada on September 4, comes after a period of strained diplomatic relations and has sparked apprehension among Conservatives who oppose military collaboration with China.
According to China’s defense ministry, the two nations engaged in their fifth defense coordination dialogue last week. Canada’s Department of Defense later confirmed this development, stating that both sides had a candid and detailed exchange on international and regional issues of common interest, expressing a desire to enhance practical exchanges and cooperation between their militaries to build mutual understanding and trust.
Although Ottawa has not engaged in any military exercises or cooperation with the People’s Liberation Army since 2018, amid a diplomatic standoff over the detention of two Canadians by Beijing, the recent meeting marked the “resumption of military talks between the two countries after eight years,” as indicated by the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa. However, the Canadian Department of National Defence refrained from confirming this framing, noting that the meeting supported ongoing military communications at the functional level.
The Defense Department emphasized the government’s strategy of establishing “guardrails” in its relations with China, outlining specific areas for potential deeper cooperation while excluding defense collaboration. This approach has faced criticism from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, who questioned the government’s shift towards defense coordination talks with China, contrasting it with previous statements regarding China being Canada’s primary global threat.
In early 2024, Canadian military officials expressed a commitment to fostering more transparent dialogue with their Chinese counterparts, following an incident in early 2023 involving a high-altitude balloon that crossed American and Canadian airspace from China. The initiative to improve relations stemmed from a desire to move away from confrontational exchanges toward rebuilding connections with countries like China.
China’s ambassador at the time highlighted challenges in this effort, citing Canada’s naval passage through the Taiwan Strait as a point of contention and emphasizing the importance of mutual respect in bilateral interactions.