Canadian lawmakers plan Taiwan trip amid rising China tensions

OTTAWA: A delegation of Canadian lawmakers programs to visit Taiwan within October to seek economic opportunities in the Asian countries Pacific region, Generous Member of Parliament Judy Sgro said on Wednesday (Aug 17), a move which could further stoke tensions between China and the West.

The relationship between China and the West has worsened since ALL OF US House of Associates Speaker Nancy Pelosi frequented Taiwan earlier this particular month against Beijing’s desires. China claims Taiwan as its territory and it is against foreign political figures visiting the isle. Democratically governed Taiwan rejects China’s promises.

In response to Pelosi’s visit, China restricted trade and launched massive military drills about Taiwan , and also slammed sanctions on Pelosi .

Beijing also imposed sanctions on a Lithuanian minister who visited Taiwan days after Pelosi’s trip.

China and taiwan said another trip simply by US lawmakers to the capital Taipei on Sunday was an violation on its sovereignty and territorial condition.

The Chinese language embassy in Ottawa did not respond to the request for comment.

The Taipei Economic and Cultural Workplace in Canada did not immediately respond to a good emailed request for comment.

Sgro mentioned members of a parliamentary committee on business have been planning to visit the self-ruled island for some time.

“The purpose is not to disrupt and cause complications for Taiwan, or even problems for China. It’s about business, it’s about companionship, it’s about possibilities for Canada, for the reason that whole Asia Pacific region, ” Sgro, who heads the trade panel, told Reuters.

Sgro said Canadian congress have visited Taiwan bi-annually in the past yet stopped due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“This is part of an ongoing effort for us to ensure that the doors are open for Canadian businesses wherever there’s business opportunity, ” Sgro said.

Traditional MP and vice chair on the business committee, Randy Hoback, said he would seek guidance from the Canadian foreign ministry before deciding on visiting Taiwan.

“I think we need to get back to normalcy in a lot of points and one of that is in visits and having interaction from country to country, inch Hoback told Reuters.

A long-running standoff between North america and China finished last year when ALL OF US prosecutors agreed to finish a bank fraud case against Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou, a high-profile Chinese businesswoman. She had been kept under house detain in Canada throughout extradition proceedings.

After Meng had been freed, China separated two Canadians who had been held by Beijing on espionage charges.

Canadian Leading Minister Justin Trudeau’s government said it respected the decision by lawmakers to visit Taiwan.

“Parliamentary associations and friendship groupings travel regularly and we respect their self-reliance, ” Canada’s foreign ministry said inside a statement.

Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly earlier this particular month said US-China tensions after Pelosi’s visit could destabilise the Taiwan Strait region and known as on Beijing to de-escalate the situation.