Joly’s Remarks Show That Canada Has a ‘2 China Policy,’ Says Former Ambassador

Canada's Foreign Minister Melanie Joly speaks during a news conference with Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the State Department in Washington on Sept. 30, 2022. Jacquelyn Martin/The Canadian Press

Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly’s recent remarks signal that the Liberal government in effect has a “2 China policy,” says David Mulroney, a former Canadian ambassador to China.

On the one hand, Joly’s choice of words when discussing the Liberals’ upcoming Indo-Pacific policy shows that Canada will maintain the “status quo” when it comes to its dealings with the Chinese regime, which will continue to make those who push for more business ties with Beijing happy, he says. On the other hand, he says, her comments show that in the face of increasing hostilities from China, Canada is only going to continue to deliver token rhetoric.

“We now have a 2 China policy. By describing PRC [People’s Republic of China] as merely ‘disruptive’ Joly can argue for a more muted version of the status quo. Cue applause from business,” Mulroney said on Twitter.  “The more-than-disruptive China of war crimes and interference can expect stern-faced rhetoric, themed tee shirts.”

In remarks about the government’s long-awaited  Indo-Pacific Strategy on Nov. 9 in Toronto, Joly said “China is an increasingly disruptive global power.”

“It seeks to shape the global environment into one that is more permissive for interests and values that increasingly depart from ours. And China’s rise as a global actor is reshaping the strategic outlook of every state,” she said.

Joly acknowledged China is guilty of human rights abuses, but said Canada also has trade ties with the country, saying she believes “in diplomacy.”

“There’s $100 billion worth of trade with China,” she said. “We will challenge China when we ought to and we will cooperate with China when we must. ”Its sheer size and influence makes cooperation necessary to address the world’s existential pressures.”

Election Interference

Joly’s update on China policy comes amid a report by  Global News that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was briefed by intelligence officials of CCP interference efforts in the 2019 federal election.

The report said that Trudeau was told in January that the CCP had covertly funded 11 unnamed candidates during the election.

“State actors from around the world, whether it’s China or others, are continuing to play aggressive games with our institutions, with our democracies,” Trudeau said in response to reporters’ questions about the allegations in Laval, Que., on Nov. 7.

Joly also commented on the alleged interference after her speech on Nov. 9, saying that Canada must “do more” to protect its democracy.

“To be straightforward, we won’t let any foreign actor meddle in our democracy. Period,” she said.

“I’ve had many conversations with my colleagues around the world about this because this is a new challenge that we need to address.”