August 18, 2022
2 mins read

Canadian parliamentary panel plans Taiwan visit  

Eight members of Canada’s House of Commons standing committee on international trade are expected to travel to Taiwan…reports Asian Lite News

A large Canadian parliamentary committee delegation is planning to visit the Chinese-claimed island of Taiwan in October, local media reported on Wednesday, a development that could further worsen relations between Ottawa and Beijing.

The planned visit, if it happens, will follow a high-profile visit to the self-governed island by US Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi in August, which sparked a furious response from Beijing and led to it launching its largest military drills around the island.

Eight members of Canada’s House of Commons standing committee on international trade are expected to travel to Taiwan, including many who are members of the Canada-Taiwan Friendship Group in the parliament, Canadian media reported.

The House standing committee is chaired by Judy Sgro, a member of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s ruling Liberal Party. Sgro said the committee “is very anxious to go and to visit Taiwan and see what opportunities there are for deeper trade relations between our two countries,” a CBC News report said.

“I’m trying to be diplomatic in my comments, but clearly I’m proud that Canada is standing up to China as well. And I think that pushback is very important,” she added.

Three of the 12 member of the committee are Canadians of Indian-origin: Chandra Arya, Anju Dhillon and Arif Virani. However, it is not known whether any of them will participate in the trip, though Virani has also supported the causes of the Tibetan diaspora in Canada. Beijing sent troops into Tibet in 1950 and a year later declared its “peaceful liberation”, according to AFP.

Tension between China and Canada deepened after Canada in 2018 detained an executive of Chinese telecoms giant Huawei on a US warrant linked to a suspected breach of US sanctions on Iran.

China, which said the accusation was fabricated, subsequently arrested two Canadians on spying charges. Canada dismissed the accusations against the two.

The diplomatic standoff ended when all three were released in September 2021.

Also in June, Canada’s military accused Chinese warplanes of harassing its patrol aircraft as they monitored North Korea sanction evasions.

The news about the visit follows Monday’s announcement by Canada’s ministry of national defence that two warships, that recently participated in a multilateral exercise, will continue their deployment in the Indo-Pacific, with HMCS Vancouver proceeding to north east Asia and HMCS Winnipeg to south east Asia.

“They will also sail in the international waters of the East and South China Seas, both independently and as part of cooperative deployments with allied and partner nations,” a statement said.

“Canada is a Pacific nation and believes deeply in the importance of the Indo-Pacific region to global stability and prosperity,” minister of national defence Anita Anand said.

General Wayne Eyre, chief of the defence staff, added, “The deployment of Canadian Armed Forces frigates and surveillance aircraft to the region is a visible display of our continued commitment toward protecting regional security and maintaining a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific.”

ALSO READ: US, Taiwan to begin trade talks

Previous Story

Biden cancels $3.9 b in student loan debt

Next Story

WHO calls for caution after dog catches monkeypox

Latest from -Top News

Multi-alignment, upgraded

With US ties strained and China tense, New Delhi taps Europe’s harder edge for co-development, clean tech and strategic autonomy, writes Manoj Menon India is recalibrating its great-power hedging as frictions with

India-EU Trade Deal Breakthrough Soon?

Negotiators report increased momentum in discussions, which have been given a boost from US President Donald Trump’s tariff offensive…reports Asian Lite News India and the European Union aim to finalise a trade

Europe Seeks Peace in Gaza

European countries condemn Israeli interception of Gaza-bound flotilla, demand safety of citizens…reports Asian Lite News Israel’s interception of an international flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza has sparked condemnation across Europe, with

GAZA: Egypt to Host Peace Talks

Egypt hopes the discussions will help “end the war and the suffering of the brotherly Palestinian people, which has continued for two consecutive years…reports Asian Lite News Egypt will host Israeli and

‘My Injuries Made Me’

During his four-year battle with injury, the incumbent fast bowling spearhead made occasional appearances but couldn’t bear the workload and demands of red-ball cricket….reports Asian Lite News England tearaway Jofra Archer believes
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Indian Diaspora Bolsters New Delhi-Ottawa Ties: Jitendra Singh

The minister highlighted that the diaspora serves as a link

Trudeau: China Tried to Meddle in Canadian Elections Twice

The Chinese Embassy in Canada denied any interference in Canadian