Two Canadian Members of Parliament are cutting short their trip to Taiwan ahead of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s scheduled visit to China this week, they said in a joint statement on Monday.
Helena Jaczek and Marie-France Lalonde, both members of Carney’s Liberal Party, said they had been pleased to collaborate with MPs from across the political spectrum during their visit. However, they said they would return home early following government advice to avoid confusion over Canada’s diplomatic stance during the prime minister’s engagements in Beijing.
“As this portion of the visit concludes, informed by advice from the government, we are returning home,” their statement read. “It’s important that we avoid confusion with Canada’s foreign policy, given the overlap with the Prime Minister’s engagement in Beijing, which was only confirmed last week.”
Jaczek and Lalonde reiterated that Canada’s position on Taiwan remains unchanged. The Globe and Mail reported that three Conservative MPs are continuing their Taiwan visit, which was sponsored by Taiwan’s government.
Prime Minister Carney’s office said the focus this week would remain on his meetings in China, where he is expected to push for deeper cooperation on trade, agriculture, energy, and international security. The Conservative Party has not commented publicly on the Liberal MPs’ early return.
China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to bring the island under its control, while Taiwan maintains that it is an independent, democratic state. Visits by foreign lawmakers often draw criticism from Beijing, which views them as interference in its internal affairs.
Carney Seeks to Deepen Trade and Security Ties with China
Carney’s trip to China marks an important step in his government’s effort to broaden Canada’s trade relations beyond its largest market, the United States. The move comes amid uncertainty surrounding U.S. trade policy under President Donald Trump, which has prompted Ottawa to strengthen ties with other major economies.
According to the prime minister’s office, the China visit aims to promote Canadian exports, attract investment, and enhance dialogue on energy cooperation and global security issues. China remains Canada’s second-largest trading partner after the United States, with bilateral trade covering a wide range of goods from agricultural products to minerals and energy resources.
While Carney’s government has sought to maintain a careful balance between supporting democratic partners such as Taiwan and engaging economically with China, the timing of the two visits has underscored the sensitivities of navigating foreign policy in the Indo-Pacific region.
with inputs from Reuters
