China Hails Canada's Strategic Realignment Amid Global Tensions

Canada/China - Ekhbary News Agency

China Hails Canada's Strategic Realignment Amid Global Tensions

The global geopolitical landscape is being reshaped by the recent rapprochement between China and Canada, a strategic move that Beijing has termed a 'correct decision.' Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed his deep satisfaction on Saturday (February 14, 2026) during a meeting with his Canadian counterpart, Anita Anand, on the sidelines of the prestigious Munich Security Conference. Wang Yi emphasized that Ottawa's commitment to a 'new policy' of rapprochement with Beijing is a fundamental step, despite considerable criticism and warnings emanating from the United States, a traditional ally of Canada.

This renewed impetus in bilateral relations does not emerge in a vacuum but is the result of a series of high-level diplomatic and commercial efforts. The Chinese Foreign Ministry's statement, released after the Munich meeting, highlighted the 'fruitful results' of former Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's recent visit to the Asian giant. That trip laid the groundwork for an ambitious consensus: the 'construction of a new type of strategic partnership' between the two nations. In this framework, Beijing has expressed its firm willingness to 'restart exchanges and cooperation in various areas' and, significantly, to 'eliminate interferences' in their relations, an thinly veiled allusion to Washington's influence.

Although Ottawa and Minister Anand have not yet issued an official statement regarding the Munich meeting, the Chinese Foreign Ministry affirmed that Anand concurred with the assessment of Carney's 'resounding success,' which, according to her, 'opened a new era' in ties with Beijing. Carney's visit to China, which included an interview with Chinese President Xi Jinping, culminated in the signing of far-reaching economic agreements. Among these, Canada's authorization for the entry of up to 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles annually stands out, with a preferential tariff of 6.1%, a drastic reduction from the previous 100%. For its part, Beijing agreed to significantly lower tariffs on Canadian canola to 15%, from the previous 84%, and to eliminate duties on agricultural and seafood products such as peas, lobsters, and crabs.

In addition to these trade agreements, Canada committed to reviewing and making 'positive adjustments to unilateral measures' it had implemented against Chinese steel and aluminum products, as well as in certain cases related to Chinese investments and operations of Asian companies on Canadian territory. These mutual commitments reflect a clear political will to overcome past frictions and establish a more constructive and mutually beneficial relationship. An additional diplomatic gesture that has contributed to this thaw is the annulment, weeks after the agreements, of the death sentence imposed in 2019 against a Canadian citizen convicted of drug trafficking, a measure that has historically been a point of considerable tension between the two countries.

The rapprochement between Ottawa and Beijing has not been without controversy, especially from the United States. Former US President Donald Trump reacted with threats to impose new tariffs on Canada, its second-largest trading partner. Although Ottawa denied any intention of signing a free trade agreement with Beijing, Trump vehemently warned that, should such a scenario occur, 'China will eat Canada, it will devour it completely.' These statements underscore Washington's concern about any move that could be perceived as a crack in the Western front against China's economic and geopolitical influence.

The recent history of Sino-Canadian relations has been marked by a rollercoaster of tensions and detentions. Ties began to deteriorate sharply in 2018, following the arrest of Meng Wanzhou, Huawei's CFO, in Vancouver at the request of the United States. Beijing responded by detaining Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor and imposing trade sanctions. Although the situation partially improved in 2021 with the release of Meng, Kovrig, and Spavor, relations soured again in 2023 when Canadian intelligence reported Chinese interference in its general elections, and Ottawa expelled a Chinese diplomat.

Against this complex backdrop, Carney's visit to China and the subsequent agreements represent a deliberate attempt by Canada to diversify its economic relations. In an international arena increasingly fragmented and polarized by escalating trade and geopolitical tensions, Ottawa seeks to reduce its dependence on a single market and strengthen its autonomy in foreign policy. This realignment, though risky, could position Canada as a more flexible and pragmatic actor on the global stage, seeking a balance between its traditional alliances and emerging opportunities in Asia.

Ekhbary News Agency