“Canada will not apologize for defending its national interests. We will not apologize for trying to enforce global rules.”said Mélanie Joly, Canadian foreign minister.

The latter denounced a China on November 9, 2022 “which is increasingly disrupting the world order”on the eve of a tour in the Indo-Pacific region. According to the head of Canadian diplomacy, Canada must “Increase Influence” in the region, considering that the “Status quo is not an option”.

The Canadian government recently made access to its rare minerals more difficult, prompting Chinese companies to sell their stakes in Canadian companies in the sector “National security”.

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Relations between China and Canada have deteriorated in recent yearsfollowing Canada’s arrest of Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou in 2018. Ottawa will continue to denounce China’s treatment of Uyghurs and other minorities, Hong Kong’s repression of freedom of expression and threats against Taiwan, Mélanie Joly said.

However, the minister pointed out that her policy is not aimed at discouraging trade with China, which has become Canada’s second largest trading partner. but “We will hold our own against China if necessary. We will cooperate with China if necessary., underlined the minister. The latter mentioned the holding of the COP15 on biodiversity in Montreal in December, chaired by China.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also denounced this this week “Aggressive Games” that China engages with Canadian democracies and institutions.

A recent report found foreign interference in Canada’s elections, prompting Ottawa authorities to launch an investigation into illegal Chinese police stations in the greater Toronto area.

The Secretary of State will attend several summits in the region with Justin Trudeau: the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, the G20 in Bali, Indonesia, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC).