(OTTAWA) A committee of Canadian lawmakers is seeking budget approval for a trade trip to Taiwan this fall, but the plan could escalate tensions with China.
Posted at 6:27 p.m.
NDP MP Brian Masse, who sits on the House of Commons International Trade Committee, said the trip was still in the planning stages.
Conservative MP and committee vice-chair Randy Hoback said Canadian MPs traveled to Taiwan twice a year before COVID-19, but said he wanted to consult with Global Affairs Canada before making the trip this time.
Earlier this month, China condemned a trip to Taiwan by US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
China considers the island of Taiwan as its territory and Beijing has imposed sanctions on Mme Pelosi in retaliation for his visit and held military exercises around Taiwan to express his displeasure.
During the visit of M.me Pelosi, Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, had urged China to defuse tensions, saying lawmakers often make international visits and they should not be used to justify China’s decision to hold drills military.