Canada: The visit of members of the Canadian Parliament to Taiwan should not be a pretext for tension from Beijing

China should not use a planned visit to Taiwan by members of Canada’s parliament as a pretext for launching either military or economic aggression, a spokesman for Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Jolie said yesterday.

China warned on Tuesday that it would take “drastic measures” if Canada meddles in Taiwan, following news that a delegation of Canadian parliamentarians plans to visit the island later this year to explore bilateral development opportunities. commercial relations.

China claims Taiwan as a part of its own territory under the principle of “one China,” and opposes visits by foreign politicians to the island.

On the other hand, Taiwan, which has a democratic government, rejects China’s claims.

Canada, like most Western countries, follows the policy of a China that diplomatically recognizes Beijing and not Taipei, while unofficially supporting Taiwan.

Jolie’s spokesman, Adrien Blanchard, said that parliamentary associations and groups of friends make independent decisions about their visits and that the Canadian government respects that.

“As we have stated before, the visit of members of parliament should not be used as a pretext for escalating tension or for aggressive military and economic actions,” said the same spokesman.

Last week, Canadian MP Judy Sgro said members of a Canada-Taiwan parliamentary “friendship group,” which receives no administrative or financial assistance from the Canadian parliament, planned to visit the self-governing island in October. .

“China will take decisive and forceful measures against any country that tries to interfere with or violate China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the Chinese embassy in Canada said in a statement late Tuesday.

Ignoring Beijing’s warnings, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei earlier in August, the first visit by a high-ranking US official in 25 years.

SOURCE: AMPE