But there is a danger in allowing economic caution to evolve into strategic hesitation. Over time, governments can begin moderating not only their rhetoric, but their willingness to act, respond, or even acknowledge security realities that risk upsetting Beijing. The result is not necessarily open alignment with China, but something subtler and potentially more dangerous: strategic self-deterrence. When governments begin limiting their own sovereign behaviour out of fear of economic retaliation or diplomatic friction, external pressure no longer needs to be directly applied. Canada increasingly risks falling into that trap.