Taiwan minister warns Canada of over-reliance on China trade as boosting ties with Beijing will leave Ottawa vulnerable to coercion

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Taiwan is urging the Canadian government to reconsider its trade relationship with China to avoid the risks of economic dependency.

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Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Chen Ming-chi (陳明祺) said Canada’s new administration under Prime Minister Mark Carney may face a steep learning curve with China. Chen was in Canada for the Halifax International Security Forum, reported The Globe and Mail.

Chen was discussing Carney’s meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in South Korea in late October. Carney called the meeting a “turning point” for Canada–China relations, and Xi has reportedly invited the prime minister to Beijing for further trade talks in early 2026.

Canada must maintain “a high awareness of the level of risk involved” when dealing with China as a major trade partner, Chen said, arguing that Beijing is known for using economic leverage to punish and pressure other countries. He added that Beijing is actively trying to “drive a wedge” between democracies.

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Chen warned that over-reliance on the Chinese market could carry a serious cost if Canada’s leaders ever displease Beijing. He pointed to ongoing diplomatic tensions between Japan and China and Beijing’s recent ban on Japanese seafood imports.

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