After Ottawa and Beijing expelled diplomats, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated Tuesday that Canada would not be frightened by China.
On Monday, Ottawa expelled Chinese envoy Zhao Wei for foreign meddling. Hours later, China ordered a Canadian diplomat in Shanghai to leave by May 13 in reaction to Ottawa’s “unreasonable actions.”
“We understand there is retaliation, but we will not be intimidated, we will continue to do everything necessary to keep Canadians protected from foreign interference,” Trudeau told Ottawa media.
Since Huawei Technologies executive Meng Wanzhou’s 2018 incarceration and Beijing arrested of two Canadians on spying charges, tensions have grown. 2021 released all three.
The new flare-up may hurt Canada’s economy. China is Canada’s second-largest economic partner behind the US, and last year Chinese imports of Canadian goods surged 16% to a record C$100 billion ($74.8 billion).
Last year, Beijing eased a three-year ban on canola imports from Richardson International and Viterra. So instead, China imports Canadian potash and wheat.
“With China, there’s always a risk” of reprisal, said Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute executive director Tyler McCann. “(But) it seems the Chinese government is more sensitive about food security than they were years ago and that might mitigate the risk.”
The Ukraine crisis has reduced global wheat and vegetable oil supplies, making it harder for China to limit its imports of Canadian wheat and canola.
“China took a very measured response,” former Canadian ambassador to China Guy Saint-Jacques told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. He suggested the Chinese might have expelled a higher-ranking official or more.
After COVID-19 limits were lifted, Saint-Jacques stated he doesn’t anticipate China to impose economic repercussions.
Beijing has hosted Western leaders like French President Emmanuel Macron this year, and Premier Li Qiang has reassured corporate executives that China is open for business.
Saint-Jacques noted that Beijing is on a “charm offensive” to attract international investors. “So putting sanctions on Canada at this stage would have sent a very bad message to foreign companies.”
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