A committee of Canadian MPs is seeking budget approval to make a trade trip to Taiwan this fall, despite the risk of escalating tensions with China.
The House of Commons International Trade Committee is currently planning the trip, which would include stops in Taiwan and Singapore, although parliament has yet to approve a budget for such a trip.
NDP MP Brian Masse, who sits on the committee, believes Canadians “need to show their support for other democracies that have had to fight for their rights and freedoms.”
Mr. Masse confirmed that discussions are underway about a trade mission to Asia that would include a visit to Taiwan.
“While the trip is still in the planning stages, the NDP strongly supports developing closer relations with Taiwan and taking this opportunity to improve our trade relationship with Taiwan,” he said.
Vice-chairman of the committee, the conservative Randy Hoback recalled that the members of a “friendship group” of Canadian and Taiwanese parliamentarians used to go to Taiwan about twice a year until the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Randy Hoback himself has already visited the island located a hundred miles from the southeastern coast of China. But this time, he wants to consult Global Affairs Canada before making the trip.
“There is no intention on my part to upset China,” he said.
Earlier this month, China condemned a trip to Taiwan by US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
China considers the island of Taiwan its territory and Beijing has imposed sanctions on Ms Pelosi in retaliation for her visit and has held military exercises around Taiwan to express its displeasure.
During Ms Pelosi’s visit, Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly urged China to defuse tensions, saying lawmakers often make international visits and they should not be used to justify China’s decision. China to hold military exercises.
A spokeswoman for Minister Joly, Emily Williams, said Wednesday that “parliamentary associations and friendship groups travel regularly and their independence is respected.”
“Canada continues to maintain and strengthen its commercial and personal ties with Taiwan,” she said. As mentioned in the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Statement on the Taiwan Strait, Canada is committed to maintaining the rules that have ensured peace and stability for decades, including in the Indo- peaceful. »
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Canada says it will offer its full cooperation to such a visit, which would “facilitate possible discussions” on various issues such as trade and investment, education as well as than technology.
“By visiting Taiwan and meeting with Taiwanese legislators, Canadian senators and MPs will have a better understanding of Taiwan’s development, its role in the region, cross-Strait relations and other issues political and economic,” commented a spokeswoman.