Canada and China have quietly reignited high-level defence talks for the first time since 2018, marking a significant shift in diplomatic relations under Prime Minister Mark Carney’s new government. The renewed engagement comes amid growing tensions with the United States over trade policy and rising concerns about China’s expanding military presence in the Indo-Pacific region.
Defence Officials Meet in Ottawa
On September 4, senior Canadian and Chinese military officials gathered in Ottawa for what both sides described as a routine working-level dialogue. While China’s Ministry of National Defense publicly announced the meeting the following day, Canada’s Department of National Defence confirmed the event only after being contacted by reporters.
“As part of ongoing working-level dialogue, Canadian and Chinese defence officials met on September 4, in support of ongoing military-to-military communications at the functional level,” said Department of National Defence spokesperson Nick Drescher Brown. He added that such meetings are standard practice and typically not made public.
The gathering marked the first formal defence coordination dialogue between the two nations since April 2018, when then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government last engaged in similar talks with Beijing. At that time, fewer than ten Canadian personnel participated, including representatives from the Canadian Armed Forces, Global Affairs Canada, and the Department of National Defence.
Strategic Shift Amid US Trade Tensions
The resumption of military discussions reflects a broader recalibration of Canada’s foreign policy under Carney, who has sought stronger ties with China following U.S. President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariff policies targeting Canadian imports. Since taking office earlier this year, Carney has pursued a “strategic partnership” with Beijing, despite criticism from Washington and some domestic voices.
However, the move has raised eyebrows among foreign policy experts who question whether reopening defence channels aligns with Canada’s long-term security interests. Vina Nadjibulla, CEO of the Centre for Strategic Statecraft, argued that Canadians deserve transparency regarding the government’s motivations.
“A lot has changed since Canada last conducted such dialogue with China in 2018,” she noted. “China’s increasingly aggressive conduct in the South China Sea and around Taiwan remains a serious concern for Canada and its Indo-Pacific and European partners.”
She went on to ask whether the revived talks serve merely as crisis management tools or signal deeper cooperation—an issue that critics fear could undermine Canada’s alignment with Western allies.
Cautious Engagement or Risky Expansion?
While officials downplayed the significance of the September meeting, calling it a routine exchange of views on regional security, concerns persist about potential implications for Canada’s defence posture. In late 2023, then-defence minister Bill Blair publicly criticised Beijing after a Chinese warplane intercepted a Canadian helicopter in the South China Sea, describing the incident as unprofessional and unsafe.
More recently, Canadian warships have routinely navigated the Taiwan Strait alongside U.S. and allied forces, asserting freedom of navigation in waters claimed by Beijing. These actions often draw sharp rebukes from China, which views them as provocative challenges to its sovereignty.
Margaret McCuaig-Johnston, an advisor at the China Strategic Risks Institute, expressed worry over any deepening defence cooperation with China, particularly given Carney’s previous characterization of the country as a top geopolitical threat.
“What does this lead to? What are the guardrails? What subjects such as the Arctic are off limits?” she asked. “The Chinese have very long-term plans.”
Royal Military College professor and retired general Wayne Eyre offered a more measured perspective, suggesting that maintaining open lines of communication—even with adversaries—is crucial for preventing misunderstandings.
“Throughout history, maintaining communication with an adversary has been useful to deepen understanding and avoid unintended escalation,” he said. “Meetings like this are normally conducted at the working level and with China they are infrequent and highly scripted.”
He advocated for establishing a dedicated higher-level direct channel to manage incidents swiftly and prevent escalation, citing historical precedents like the Cold War hotline between Washington and Moscow.
Context: From Diplomatic Freeze to Renewed Ties
Relations between Canada and China entered a deep freeze in December 2018, when Beijing detained former diplomats Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor shortly after Canadian authorities arrested Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou at Vancouver airport on an extradition warrant requested by the U.S. Both Michaels were released in September 2021 following a last-minute deal brokered by then-Prime Minister Trudeau.
Since assuming office, Prime Minister Carney has moved decisively to mend ties with Beijing, signing several bilateral agreements aimed at boosting economic cooperation. His administration argues that re-engaging with China strategically positions Canada to diversify trade relationships amid deteriorating links with traditional partners like the U.S.
Yet, questions remain about how far this rapprochement extends into sensitive areas such as defence technology transfers, joint training exercises, or intelligence sharing—all of which fall under strict export controls and national security frameworks.
Why it Matters
The resumption of Canada-China defence dialogue signals a pivotal moment in Ottawa’s approach to global geopolitics, balancing economic opportunity against strategic risk. As Western democracies grapple with rising authoritarian influence and shifting power dynamics in the Indo-Pacific, Canada finds itself navigating a delicate path—one foot rooted in alliance commitments, the other stepping toward renewed engagement with a formidable competitor. How this dual-track strategy evolves will shape not only Canada’s standing in multilateral forums but also its ability to safeguard core values while pursuing vital national interests in an increasingly contested world order.
