Better Canada-China ties boost Asean

Canada’s decision to reset relations with China is extraordinary, coming at a critical time for both countries.

- Kavi Chongkittavorn

This photo from Friday shows Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

(REUTERS)

It reflects changes in the Western Hemisphere that have led Canada to realise that boosting ties with China is a necessity.Furthermore, it will have far-reaching implications for their future bilateral relations and beyond. It is interesting to note that it took US President Donald Trump's intimidation — both on trade and annexation — to push straightforward Canada towards the East.

Canada is not seeking new friends. It is instead engaging in soul-searching about its ties with the world’s No.2 economy and others in the Indo-Pacific. In the 1990s, Canada was a well-recognised middle power that played an important role in both economic and security affairs. Then, suddenly, Canada disappeared from the regional radar.

Certainly, the Trump administration's unpredictability and its approach towards Canada have prompted Ottawa to recalibrate its diplomatic direction with its closest neighbour. Under the former leader, Justin Trudeau, Canada was pro-America, taking its cue from Washington — Ottawa's hardline attitude towards China was a hallmark of that period. It was also reflected in Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, which was anything but neutral toward China. Few similar frameworks were as hardline. Despite its anti-China stance in the past years, Canada is committed to supporting the Asean Outlook for the Indo-Pacific.