As diplomatic and commercial relations between the two giants continue to deteriorate, one demographically and the other geographically, this time they may have reached a point of no return.

causes of tension

At the root of Ottawa’s anger lie dark tales of espionage and corruption orchestrated by Beijing on Canadian soil. “There is strong evidence that the Chinese Communist Party’s United Front Labor Department is very active in the elite capture operations being conducted by the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa and consulates across Canada.” explains Charles Burton, sinologist at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute in OttawaHas.

China has many illegal Chinese police stations in Canada (particularly in Toronto and Vancouver), thanks to which it pursues its nationals whom it finds disruptive. “Uyghur, Tibetan, Hong Kong, Falun Gong and pro-democracy communities and groups have been targeted. They have been intimidated and threatened here in Canada, as have their family members in China for their human rights activism.” explains Alex Neve, professor at the Law Schools of the University of Ottawa and Dalhousie University.

Ottawa also accuses Beijing of conducting massive industrial espionage on its territory. “Some sectors are more affected than others: biopharmaceuticals, health, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, marine technologies and aerospace”, says Canadian Intelligence Director David Vigneault.

Alex Neve sums up the situation as follows: “The status quo is no longer good enough in Canada-China relations. There were too many pain points and tensions and no effective way to address them.”

Ottawa raises the tone

In the face of these intrusions, Canada is now showing its fangs in the person of Mélanie Joly, Canada’s Foreign Minister, who couldn’t be clearer. ” We will challenge China if necessary », a diet of which “Interests and values ​​diverge more and more from ours”, the minister recently explained at a press conference.

A confidence in China that few Western countries dare because they do not have the same weapons as Ottawa. In fact, Canada has vast natural resources on which China depends, while economically very little depends on Beijing (nearly 72% of Canadian exports go to the United States).

Thus, as Mélanie Joly recalled at the end of November, Canada would be ready to completely sever its trade ties with Beijing, refocusing its Indo-Pacific strategy on India and the countries of Southeast Asia. “Canada has agreed to a strategic dialogue with the United States on Indo-Pacific policy. And Ottawa has applied to join the US-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity. It is likely that the latter called for Canada to show more determination towards China.” explains Charles Burton.