Risk as Carney Looks to Deepen China Ties: What Canada Must Manage | CBC

Trade ties and security concerns

Carney is expected to meet Xi Jinping during the APEC summit this coming week, as he works to rebuild Canada’s economic and trade relationship with China. The meeting is intended to support closer commercial ties.

Carney said Canada would stress the importance it places on China and other countries not interfering in Canadian affairs. Experts say pursuing economic opportunities does not remove the security concerns associated with China.

Vina Nadjibulla, co-founder and CEO of the Centre for Strategic Statecraft, said Canada’s strategic circumstances and the government’s approach have changed, rather than China’s behaviour. She pointed to uncertainty in Canada’s relationship with the United States as a reason to stabilize ties with Beijing and diversify trade.

Canada faces distinct risks

Nadjibulla described the United States and China as peer competitors in a global contest for economic, technological and military leadership. Canada, she said, is in a fundamentally different position.

Alleged spying and safeguards

Thomas pointed to the arrest in July of a Canadian NATO intern on espionage charges allegedly linked to China as part of Canada’s recent experience with suspected Chinese spying. The charges are allegations.

Thomas also cited Carney’s plans for a minister responsible for artificial intelligence and a National Council on Artificial Intelligence. She said the work could help advise on AI use and regulation and develop safety guardrails.

Carney made a similar observation at a Tuesday news conference in Montreal. The article also includes comments by former U.S. trade representative Katherine Tai about vulnerabilities linked to concentration in industry, the economy and politics.