Canada’s top diplomat said on Wednesday (9) that China is an “increasingly disruptive” global power ahead of a tour of Asia for the upcoming ASEAN, G20 and APEC summits.

“China seeks to shape the global scenario so that it is more permissive vis-à-vis interests and values ​​that are increasingly distant from ours,” said Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie. Pretty.

“And China’s rise as a global player is changing the strategic outlook for all states in the region, including Canada,” he added.

Presenting a summary of Ottawa’s new policy, which will be released in the coming weeks, Joly said expanding relations with India and other countries in the region, as well as Taiwan, will be key.

Joly, however, has not discouraged increased trade with China – now Canada’s second largest trading partner – despite strained diplomatic relations.

But he warned Canadian companies that they “need to keep their eyes peeled” when doing business in and with China.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau this week denounced China’s “aggressive games” with democracy and Canadian institutions.

Relations between the two countries soured with the arrest of a Huawei executive in Canada in 2018 and Beijing’s arrest of two Canadians in apparent retaliation. All three were released last year.

Joly pledged that Ottawa would continue to speak out against China’s treatment of Uyghurs and other minorities, its crackdown on free speech in Hong Kong, military threats against Taiwan and any measures to restrict international navigation rights. In the region.

He also highlighted Canada’s growing military presence in the Pacific and announced that it will increase the staff of its embassies to analyze the impacts of China’s policies and actions.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), made up of a dozen countries in the region, meets from Friday to Sunday in Cambodia.

The G20 summit, which includes Brazil, Canada and Mexico, will be held Nov. 15-16 in Indonesia.

And the summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, which also brings together Mexico, Peru and Chile, will take place from November 16 to 19 in Thailand.

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© Agence France-Presse