preface
A few days ago, the Foreign Minister of Canada officially opened a state visit to China.
According to China's practice, whether it is a big country or a small country, as long as we come to China, we will treat each other with courtesy.
However, when confronted with the Canadian Foreign Minister, Foreign Minister Wang Yi rarely made heavy remarks, and the Canadian side did not get angry because of this, but took the initiative to make a commitment to our side.
This abnormal situation has made the outside world believe that Canada's attitude towards China may have changed.
So is this true? If so, why has Canada's attitude changed?
China-Canada Foreign Minister-level Meeting
As we all know, although Canada is an independent sovereign state, its domestic policy has been influenced by United States because it is too far from heaven and too close to United States, and it can even be said that it is moving in the same direction.
For example, United States suppressed China, and Canada acted as a pawn.
The seizure of Meng Wanzhou in 2018 was the hand of United States behind the scenes and Canada.
It is precisely because of Canada's position that there has been a considerable rift in Sino-Canadian relations, and the two sides have not made a foreign minister-level visit for many years since then.
Recently, that has changed.
According to state media reports, at the invitation of Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Canadian Foreign Minister Joli paid an official visit to China from July 18 to 20.
In fact, it is not accurate to say that it is an invitation, but it is precisely that Canada has taken the initiative to release goodwill.
In April this year, Canada's Deputy Foreign Minister Morrison made a surprise visit to China, and there was a lot of discussion on the Internet at that time, speculating about the purpose of his visit.
At present, Morrison's visit to China at that time was to make a front stop, hoping to help his superiors get tickets to visit China.
Obviously, the talks between the two sides should be quite good, otherwise there would not have been Jolly's recent visit.
According to online sources, after Joli flew to China, Foreign Minister Wang Yi was responsible for receiving her and held a foreign minister-level meeting soon after.
And it was at the meeting that the elegant Foreign Minister Wang Yi rarely spoke heavily.
Source: Shangguan News July 21, 2024 Regarding the report on "Canada's foreign minister's visit to China, Wang Yi mentioned this point in time".
Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that in the past period, China-Canada relations have been full of twists and turns, which are not what China wants to see, and he hopes to respect each other and strengthen cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.
This passage is actually a typical diplomatic black language, I will give you a shallow translation: the reason why China-Canada relations are tortuous is entirely Canada's responsibility, China has always advocated win-win cooperation, and it is Canada that disregards China's interests.
It can be said that this rhetoric is already quite harsh at the diplomatic level.
However, Canada is a guest after all, and China, as a country of etiquette, has no reason to be unforgiving.
Then Foreign Minister Wang Yi persuaded Canada bitterly, saying that there is no fundamental conflict of interest between China and Canada.
The implication is that the contradictions between China and Canada are entirely caused by a third country, and between the two countries, conflicts can be avoided and cooperation can be strengthened.
After the Chinese side expressed its goodwill, Canadian Foreign Minister Jolly also quickly made a statement.
She said that in the future, the Canadian side will strengthen communication with China in a pragmatic manner and promote the cooperation between the two countries in the fields of economy, trade, and environment.
Finally, she also emphasized the Taiwan Strait issue, saying that Canada will always abide by the one-China principle.
Obviously, Jolly knows very well that Taiwan is China's core interest and cannot be touched or touched.
Judging from Jolly's statement, Canada's attitude towards China is developing on the positive side.
If Canada's commitments can be truly implemented, it will be a good thing for us and for Canada.
So why did Canada change its previous attitude and make overtures to China?
The editor believes that there may be two reasons for this.
Two reasons
The first is Trump.
Although Canada is the younger brother of United States, the political leanings of successive Canadian prime ministers are different, such as the current Prime Minister Trudeau, who is obviously more supportive of the Democratic Party of United States.
In 2021, United States made a Capitol Hill incident that shocked the world, and became the laughing stock of the world for a while, and this incident is closely related to Trump.
Just after the Capitol Hill incident broke out, Trudeau unceremoniously angrily vented Trump at a press conference, saying that the "riot" was deliberately instigated by Trump.
This is clearly giving Trump eye medicine.
And there has been more than one such incident.
Biden had a bilateral meeting with Trudeau after taking office, and at the meeting, Trudeau once again criticized Trump by name.
He said the Biden administration is more focused on climate than Trump and thanked Biden for returning to his United States leadership.
Speaking of which, Trudeau's words are not wrong, Trump's withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement has indeed had a serious negative impact on solving the global climate problem.
But right or wrong, Trudeau has offended Trump solidly.
Originally, this was nothing, after all, Trump was just a former president who stepped down, but who would have thought that Trump would make a comeback four years later?
Since entering 2024, Trump's approval rating has been rising due to the Biden administration's unpopularity.
And after he was shot and assassinated, he was even more holy, and his approval rating soared again, and now he is far ahead of Biden.
At present, if the Democrats do not make a side move, Trump is likely to win the election.
And once Trump returns to the White House, Trudeau's hard days may be coming.
Even if he cares about political influence, Trump will not target Canada on the surface, but relying on United States' control of Canada, a slight move of his fingers is enough for Trudeau to drink a pot.
So, after Trump became the Republican presidential nominee, Jolly hastened to visit China.
It is clear that Canada wants China to pull him along.
The second is the economy.
As we all know, China is not only the world's largest industrial producer, but also the world's most active market.
Anti-China Canada, although its economy ranks among the top ten in the world, its domestic economy is like a pool of stagnant water.
Canada urgently needs new economic assistance to help the country urgently need development, while United States cannot count on it, and the only thing Canada can turn to is China.
epilogue
On the whole, the main reason why Canada has changed its attitude toward China is to ask us.
However, although China advocates cooperation, whether it will help depends on whether the Canadian side is sincere enough.
If Jolly's promises are implemented, then China and Canada can further deepen cooperation, after all, it will be beneficial to both sides.
But if Canada just writes a blank check, China will naturally not put a hot face on the cold ass.
Next, it's up to Canada to perform.