In a world where authoritarian regimes increasingly test the resolve of democracies, Conservative MP Michael Chong’s recent visit to Taiwan stands as a refreshing counterpoint to the feckless pandering and accommodation to Beijing we have seen from the governments of Justin Trudeau and Mark Carney.

Chong, the Conservatives’ foreign affairs critic, arrived in Taipei this week, where he met with President Lai Ching-te and delivered a clear message: Canada is a sovereign nation that will not be dictated to by a foreign power about where its parliamentarians can travel. This trip — undertaken independently but with notice to the government — directly defied ominous warnings from China’s ambassador, Wang Di. It is exactly the kind of unapologetic diplomacy Canada has long needed.

Canada should never allow itself to be bullied by a bellicose “wolf warrior” state like China. Beijing’s threats and tantrums over parliamentary visits to Taiwan betray a regime deeply hostile to the free exchange of ideas and the right of elected representatives to engage with fellow democrats. Chong’s visit asserts what should be obvious: Canadian MPs answer to Canadians, not the Chinese Communist Party.

This moment also recalls Canada’s proud history of defending and promoting democracy, freedom, human rights, and the rule of law. These are not abstract slogans but the bedrock of our national identity. Taiwan embodies these values through its vibrant multiparty democracy, free press, and independent judiciary. Conversely, the People’s Republic of China despises and systematically rejects these values. From the brutal suppression of freedoms in Hong Kong and Xinjiang to the relentless military intimidation of a peaceful Taiwan, Beijing’s record stands in stark contrast to the open society Taiwan has built. Canada’s support for Taiwan is not provocation; it is consistency with who we claim to be.

Economically, the contrast is equally stark. Taiwan maintains a robust, innovative economy that embraces open markets and the rules-based international trading system. Its high-tech sector, particularly semiconductors, is a cornerstone of global supply chains built on reliability and mutual benefit rather than coercion. This is precisely the kind of partnership Canada should champion. Instead, too often we have tolerated Beijing’s predatory practices: market-distorting subsidies, intellectual property theft, forced technology transfers, political interference, and economic coercion against countries that dare criticize it. Chong’s visit should prompt a clearer-eyed Canadian trade policy that prioritizes partners who play by the rules.

Taiwan’s longstanding candidacy to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) reinforces this point. As a high-standard, rules-based trade pact, the CPTPP should welcome Taiwan, which demonstrably meets its rigorous requirements for market access, regulatory transparency, and trade commitments. Canada, having chaired the CPTPP Commission in 2024, has the credibility and respected voice to advance this accession process alongside other like-minded members. Prioritizing Taiwan over China’s duplicitous CPTPP accession request — one that masks Beijing’s long record of WTO violations and predatory economic behaviour — would send a powerful signal about the values underpinning Indo-Pacific trade architecture.

Finally, Mr. Chong’s visit reminds us of a broader principle. If Canada won’t stand for freedom and democracy in Taiwan — the frontline of resistance to authoritarian expansion — why should any other pariah state take us seriously? Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, Iran’s destabilization of the Middle East, or the repressive antics of the regimes in Cuba cannot be confronted credibly if we falter when the world’s most powerful autocracy attempts to intimidate a thriving democracy of 23 million people. Selective silence erodes our moral authority on the global stage.

Canada’s approach to China must balance economic realities with strategic clarity. Engagement is inevitable, but it cannot come at the expense of our core interests and values. Michael Chong’s trip to Taiwan models the latter: principled, sovereign, and forward-looking. Prime Minister Carney and his government would do well to follow his example rather than repeat the patterns of deference that have too often defined Canada’s recent posture. Our allies, our values, and our long-term security demand nothing less.

The Hon. Ed Fast served as Canada’s Minister of International Trade from 2011 to 2015. He led negotiations on free trade agreements with the European Union, the original Trans-Pacific Partnership, Ukraine, and South Korea. He is now a distinguished fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute and the Center for North American Prosperity & Security.

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