By Liu Dan
Information released by China's Ministry of National Defense on September 4 shows that the fifth China-Canada Defense Coordination Dialogue was held in Canada. This marks the first time in eight years, since April 2018, that the two countries have held talks through the defense coordination dialogue mechanism. The two sides exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern in a candid and in-depth manner, and expressed a willingness to strengthen pragmatic exchanges and cooperation between the two militaries. From any perspective, this is a positive signal and also points to a return to rationality on the Canadian side.
There are inherently no fundamental geopolitical conflicts between China and Canada. Separated by the vast Pacific Ocean, the two countries have no border disputes, no historical grievances, and no direct security threats. On the contrary, China and Canada are highly complementary economically and share broad common interests in global governance issues such as regional security, the maintenance of sea lines of communication (SLOCs), counter-terrorism, peacekeeping, and climate change. The defense dialogue mechanism between the two countries was established to enhance mutual trust and avoid miscalculations, which accords with the national interests of both countries and contributes to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large. A stable and predictable China-Canada relationship also plays an irreplaceable foundational role in safeguarding freedom of navigation and promoting commercial prosperity on both sides of the Pacific.
From the Canadian perspective, a key factor that cannot be ignored in the resumption of this meeting mechanism is Canada's reassessment of its own strategic position, especially its profound doubts about the reliability of the US. Over the past few years, Canada's reliance on the US for security and economic interests has failed to bring it reciprocal respect; instead, it has repeatedly been subjected to rough treatment under the banner of "America First." From the Trump administration's imposition of tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum products on "national security" grounds, to its threat to withdraw from the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), to its pressure on Canada to take sides in its China policy, Ottawa has experienced firsthand the instrumental and uncertain nature of its so-called "alliance" with Washington.
Deep-seated anxieties within Canada over its relations with the US are undergoing a fundamental shift. In May this year, the US suddenly announced the suspension of the US-Canada Permanent Joint Board on Defense (PJBD), established in 1940 and in operation ever since, formally putting on hold more than 80 years of bilateral cooperation on North American defense. The Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has on multiple occasions openly expressed concern that the US might undermine Canada's security interests, saying that Canada cannot rely entirely on this US-dominated bilateral mechanism for its national security and must strengthen its own capabilities.
From US unilateralist actions regarding Arctic Sea routes, critical minerals, energy exports, and "Buy American" provisions, to the interference in Canada's internal affairs stemming from the spillover of US domestic political polarization, Canada feels not merely disappointment, but a deep-seated anxiety over having its key interests ignored and its strategic choices constrained in security matters. The once-held belief that Canadians can always rely on the US is being shattered piece by piece by reality.
Today, there is a widespread sense among both the Canadian public and political circles that the US has transformed from a traditional ally into an unpredictable neighbor that may even harm Canada's core interests. This shift in perception is an important driving force behind Ottawa's efforts to recalibrate its foreign policy and diversify its strategic options. Canada is beginning to realize that staking all its security and prosperity on an increasingly unreliable neighbor is itself the greatest strategic risk.
It is against this backdrop that the resumption of the China-Canada defense dialogue carries strategic implications. It indicates that Canada is beginning to seek, to some extent, to reduce its reliance solely on the US and pursue a greater degree of strategic autonomy in the security sphere. Canada's greater independence and pragmatism in its foreign policy undoubtedly open up new possibilities for improving China-Canada relations. A China-Canada relationship built on mutual respect, equality, and mutual benefit will not only benefit the two peoples, but also inject greater stability into a turbulent international landscape. In the current international landscape, neither dependence nor confrontation can bring genuine security; cooperation and dialogue offer a more sustainable path.
(The author is a research fellow at the Center for Canadian Studies, Academy of International and Regional Studies, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies)
Editor's Note: Originally published on huanqiu.com, this article is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information and opinions in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn.