Taiwan Welcomes Canada’s Support Before Prime Minister’s Visit to China

Post by : Saif Nasser

Taiwan has expressed strong appreciation to Canada for standing up for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait at a sensitive political moment. President Lai Ching-te thanked the Canadian government for its support during recent Chinese military exercises near Taiwan, just days before Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is due to visit China.

President Lai made these remarks while meeting a group of Canadian lawmakers in Taipei. He said relations between Taiwan and Canada have grown steadily in recent years, especially in areas such as trade, technology, and investment. According to Lai, these efforts have helped build trust and closer cooperation between the two sides, even without official diplomatic ties.

Like most countries, Canada does not formally recognize Taiwan as a state because China claims the island as its own territory. However, contacts between Canada and Taiwan have increased as China has stepped up military pressure on the democratic island. Taiwan sees support from countries like Canada as important for keeping peace in the region.

During the meeting, President Lai thanked Canada for quickly issuing a public statement last month after China held large-scale military drills around Taiwan. He said Canada’s response showed concern for peace and opposition to any one-sided move to change the current situation across the Taiwan Strait. Lai added that stability in the area is not only important for Taiwan, but also for the wider international community.

The visit by Canadian lawmakers came with some complications. Two members of Prime Minister Carney’s Liberal Party left Taiwan earlier than planned. They said they did so after advice from the Canadian government, to avoid confusion before Carney’s upcoming visit to China. The early departure drew attention because of the sensitive timing.

The remaining members of the delegation were from Canada’s opposition Conservative Party. One of them told President Lai that Taiwan is a reliable and trusted partner. She said their visit was meant to clearly show that Taiwan has friends in Canada’s parliament who value shared democratic values.

Taiwan’s foreign ministry later said the early departure of the two lawmakers should not be overinterpreted. It stressed that Taiwan will continue to strengthen cooperation and exchanges with Canada in the future.

President Lai did not speak publicly about Prime Minister Carney’s China trip. Carney is expected to discuss trade and international security issues during his visit. The trip comes at a challenging time for Canada, as it faces uncertain relations with the United States due to trade tensions and strong political statements from U.S. President Donald Trump.

Canada has also angered China in the past by sending warships through the Taiwan Strait, something Beijing strongly opposes. Such actions, Canada says, support freedom of navigation under international law.

Overall, President Lai’s comments reflect Taiwan’s effort to thank supportive partners while navigating a tense regional environment. They also highlight the careful balance countries like Canada must maintain as they engage with both China and Taiwan on the global stage.