By Tony O’Reilly-
China has warned Canada it will take “forceful measures” if Canada interferes in Taiwan, a week after it emerged that a delegation of Canadian parliamentarians was planning to visit the island later this year to explore trade opportunities.
Canadian parliamentarians have toured Taiwan in the past, but there are now heightened fears over the risk of diplomatic trips to Taiwan escalating political tensions with Beijing.
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Members of a Canada-Taiwan parliamentary “friendship group”, which does not obtain administrative or monetary help from the Canadian parliament, had been planning to go to the self-ruled island in October, Liberal Member of Parliament Judy Sgro stated final week.
Sgro stated the journey would give attention to commerce and the lawmakers intent was to not disrupt and trigger issues for Taiwan or with China.
Chinese Ambassador Cong Peiwu (pictured) called for the United States to de-escalate tensions after U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, and is taking a stringent stance against any country that interferes with its political dramas associated with Taiwan.
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China claims Taiwan as its territory under its “one-China principle” and objects to foreign politicians visiting the island. Democratically governed Taiwan rejects China’s claims.
“We urge the Canadian side to abide by the one-China principle and respect China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the Chinese embassy in Canada said in a statement sent late Tuesday.
“China will take resolute and forceful measures against any country that attempts to interfere with or infringe upon China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the Chinese embassy said.
Members of a Canada-Taiwan parliamentary “friendship group”, which does not receive administrative or financial support from the Canadian parliament were planning to visit the self-ruled island in October, Liberal Member of Parliament Judy Sgro said last week.
Sgro said the trip would focus on trade and the lawmakers intent was not to disrupt and cause problems for Taiwan or with China.
Beijing has imposed sanctions on U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi and held military drills around Taiwan after Pelosi visited the island earlier this month.
“China firmly opposes any form of official exchanges between the Taiwan region and countries having diplomatic relations with China,” the Chinese embassy said in its statement.
“China will take resolute and forceful measures against any country that attempts to interfere with or infringe upon China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
In a statement, Canada’s government said parliamentary associations and friendship groups were independent, and it respected the lawmakers’ intent to visit Taiwan.
Canada, like the rest of the West, follows a one-China policy that recognizes Beijing, not Taipei, diplomatically, while unofficially it supports Taiwan.
The relationship between China and the West has worsened since U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan earlier this month against Beijing’s wishes.
Joly spokesperson Adrien Blanchard said parliamentary associations and friendship groups make travel decisions independently and the Canadian government respects tha
“As we have said before, the travel of parliamentarians should not be used as a pretext for escalation or aggressive military and economic actions,” Blanchard said.
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