Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney recently met with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation summit in South Korea. This meeting marked a significant moment in the evolving relationship between Canada and China, with Carney describing it as a "turning point." Following this encounter, Canada and China announced plans to revive a "strategic partnership," as noted by Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand after her discussions with her Chinese counterpart earlier this month.

The renewed engagement with China appears to be driven by Canada's desire to diversify its export markets beyond the United States. Carney's government aims to strengthen trade ties with major Asian economies. Anand emphasized that the revived relationship would serve as a "forum to assert Canada’s interests," and Carney reportedly raised concerns about foreign interference during his discussions with Xi.

However, critics argue that Canada is moving forward without fully acknowledging the complexities of its relationship with China. The past decade has seen significant tensions, including China's aggressive actions and its human rights record. Canada recently re-established relations with a country that has been accused of hostage diplomacy, notably the detention of two Canadians, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, for over 1,000 days.

A report from the Hogue Inquiry earlier this year identified the People’s Republic of China as the most active perpetrator of foreign interference targeting Canada’s democratic institutions. It also highlighted the sophisticated cyber threats posed by China, which increasingly employs social media for disinformation campaigns.

In addition to these concerns, China's human rights practices have come under scrutiny. Reports indicate that the Chinese government has been detaining Christian leaders and suppressing dissent in Hong Kong under the National Security Law. Just four years ago, Canada’s Parliament unanimously recognized the treatment of the Uyghur minority in China as genocide.

Howard Anglin, a former deputy chief of staff to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, has warned that engaging with the Chinese government means dealing with an "outlaw regime" that does not respect the rule of law. He cautioned that any business dealings should be approached with skepticism regarding the enforcement of laws.

Michael Kovrig, who was detained in China, recently stated, "If you create dependency on China, it will weaponize it for political purposes and to silence Canada and constrain our foreign policy." This sentiment reflects the broader concerns about the implications of deepening ties with China.

Canada's own Indo-Pacific Strategy characterizes China as "an increasingly disruptive global power" that has benefited from international norms while increasingly disregarding them. As Canada navigates its foreign policy, the challenge remains to balance its economic interests with the realities of engaging with a nation that has a contentious history with Canada. The question remains whether Canada can effectively manage this relationship without compromising its values and security.