China Urges Canada to Get Out From Under America’s Wing
As Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrives in China on Wednesday, Beijing is signaling that it sees an opening to draw one of Washington’s closest allies slightly closer to its orbit. Chinese state media is urging Canada to pursue what it calls a more independent foreign policy—described as “strategic autonomy”—rather than continuing to align so closely with the United States.
Canada has long been one of America’s nearest and most reliable partners. But Chinese officials and commentators appear to believe that President Trump’s aggressive trade policies—and more recent military actions abroad—could strain that relationship. Beijing hopes those tensions may create space for improved ties with Ottawa.
China had strongly opposed President Biden’s efforts to tighten cooperation among the U.S., Europe, Canada, Australia, India, and others to counter Beijing’s influence. Now, Chinese leaders see a chance to weaken those bonds, even as they remain cautious about how far Canada is willing to go.
Carney has emphasized trade during the visit, framing the trip as part of a broader strategy to diversify Canada’s economic partnerships and reduce reliance on the U.S. market. His government has faced pressure from Washington, including tariffs on Canadian exports and repeated remarks from Trump suggesting Canada could become America’s 51st state.
The visit also marks an attempt to reset Canada’s relationship with China after years of strain under former prime minister Justin Trudeau. In 2024, Trudeau’s government joined the U.S. in imposing a 100% tariff on Chinese-made electric vehicles, prompting swift retaliation from Beijing. This week, the state-run China Daily warned that if Canada continues to shape its China policy around U.S. priorities, any recent efforts to repair relations would be undermined.
Canadian officials say they expect progress on trade discussions during the trip, though they do not anticipate the immediate removal of existing tariffs. Analysts note that China may also seek to capitalize on Trump’s recent comments and threats involving Canada and Greenland to encourage Ottawa to distance itself further from Washington and expand its engagement with Beijing.
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