EditorialChina to feature in Trudeau’s foreign policy agenda

China was not a significant issue in the recent Canadian election, but the nation will feature largely in returned Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s foreign policy agenda. There are tough decisions that require wise consideration to smooth fractured relations. Huawei, the Chinese technology giant, is at the centre, with trade and diplomatic ties directly affected. The humbled leader, his Liberal Party minority government and its left-leaning coalition partners, have to do what is best for ties.

Trudeau overcame scandals and self-inflicted political wounds to gain a second term, but lost his parliamentary majority. Domestic issues dominated the campaign and widening electoral rifts were apparent between the nation’s east and west and urban and rural areas.

Minority governments are not new in Canadian politics and are arguably good for policymaking. The prime minister will have to listen to the views and demands of lawmakers from other parties. Given China’s importance to the Canadian economy and the nation’s development, there is every need for a variety of opinions to ensure balance.

Ottawa’s relations with Beijing have been frayed since December, when Meng Wanzhou, Huawei’s chief financial officer and the daughter of its founder, was arrested at the request of the United States over an extradition agreement. Shortly after, Beijing detained two Canadians for allegedly breaching national security and imports of canola and meat were blocked.

The legal case will take time and there is added uncertainty with the government still to make a decision on whether to use Huawei technology in its next-generation 5G telecommunications networks. The US has been waging a global campaign against the firm, contending it is a front for Chinese spying and pressuring allies, Canada among them, to bar it from 5G systems.

Trudeau’s government put off making a decision until after the election and for the sake of Canada’s 5G roll-out, he has to act soon. But although the US is Canada’s biggest trading partner and China a far second, the latter offers far more opportunities for growth and development through its technological and infrastructure opportunities like the Belt and Road Initiative. Trudeau has to put his nation’s best interests first.