Evidence of meeting #6 for Canada-China Relations in the 44th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was relations.
A video is available from Parliament.
November 1st, 2022 / 7:20 p.m.
Liberal
Jean Yip Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Thank you for coming this evening.
Canada has consistently supported Taiwan's meaningful participation in global discussions where Taiwan's absence is noted. Global health and civil aviation are two recent examples where Canada has advocated for Taiwan's participation.
Can you provide us with an overview of the role Canada plays to support Taiwan in this regard? How important is it for Taiwan's voice to be heard globally?
Representative, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Canada
As a matter of fact, Canada has played a very important role in support of Taiwan's international participation, and you are the people behind that support. I am referring to the three motions passed in this Parliament. This year, three motions from different committees have passed in support of Taiwan's international participation, and one motion is from the House.
You probably don't know that each and every passage of these motions has been widely reported in Taiwan. It is much cherished and embraced by all people to know that Taiwan does not stand alone and we have support from Canada.
Please don't belittle these efforts that you are putting into your parliamentary work, because this kind of morale for a country like Taiwan is really important. This is why, when the recent parliamentary delegation visited Taiwan, they received our gratitude and appreciation in different meetings we had. There was a very strong feeling that Parliament is really doing something to help Taiwan.
Liberal
Jean Yip Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
I'm sorry to interrupt you, but for our viewers at home, can you tell us what the three motions are?
Representative, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Canada
The motions passed in different committees are mostly in support of Taiwan's participation in the World Health Organization.
Liberal
Jean Yip Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Thank you.
Sorry, were you going to say more on this issue?
Representative, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Canada
The most important message I am trying to convey is that Canada has played a very important role, and we hope there will be more supportive gestures to come out of Parliament. I appreciate the assistance from individual members, including many who are here tonight.
Liberal
Jean Yip Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Thank you.
In your opening statement, you talked about peace and stability in the region. What can Canada do to ensure that peace is maintained across the Taiwan Strait?
Representative, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Canada
Again, just as in the CPTPP, Canada cannot do it alone. In maintaining peace and stability in our part of the world, Canada is a very important country for making a contribution, but you are not making it by yourself. I think we have mentioned like-minded countries a lot, including in my opening remarks.
A like-minded country is a very loose concept. It needs leadership. I think the leadership most logically comes from the G7 countries. Canada, the U.S. and Japan are representing some areas of like-minded countries. The other four out of the G7 come from Europe. They are leading the like-minded countries in that part of the world.
It's very important that Canada voiced its support and concern in the G7 foreign ministers' statement and the G7 summit by saying that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are of utmost importance to the world. The more you reiterate that kind of position, the more China will think twice, because they know that they are defying the international aspiration for peace and stability in that part of the world.
Liberal
Jean Yip Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
As already mentioned by my colleague Mr. Fragiskatos, Canada is ranked fourth among study destinations. What are some of the challenges you see for Taiwanese students in Canada and Canadian students in Taiwan?
Representative, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Canada
Indeed, Canada is one of the most favoured countries as a destination for our young people, who come over for a higher degree and for broader study. That has been interrupted by the pandemic. The exchange programs between the universities had to suspend for three years in some cases, not only for two years. I very much hope that these kinds of exchange programs can resume as quickly as possible.
From the government's point of view, I think we would like to facilitate getting the students from Canada to go to Taiwan to study and likewise from Taiwan to Canada. There are also other vehicles, other projects, that can help this kind of studying to increase. I'm talking about the working holiday program. We have a working holiday program between us that is working very well, although I'm talking about before the pandemic.
Hopefully, now, in the postpandemic era, the situation will resume like before. This is a project allowing young people of the two countries between 18 and 35 years old to travel to each other's country without needing a work permit. They can work in the working holiday program. Because these kinds of friendships are nurtured when people are young, they tend to carry on the friendships for the rest of their lives. It's very good, and it will facilitate more young people to come to each other's countries for higher study.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken Hardie
Thank you, Mr. Tseng.
Thank you, Ms. Yip. That's your time.
In the second round, Mr. Bergeron and Ms. McPherson will each have five minutes.
Your five minutes start now, Mr. Bergeron.
Bloc
Stéphane Bergeron Bloc Montarville, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
In the columns of the newspaper Le Devoir of October 17, you stated: “From Taiwan's point of view, we would certainly like to see senior members of Canada's cabinet visit Taiwan at the appropriate time.”
The last time a Canadian minister visited Taiwan was in 1998, when John Manley, then Liberal Minister of Industry, made such a visit.
In your opinion, why would a ministerial visit be important for Taiwan?
Representative, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Canada
Thank you, sir, for the question.
Why is the minister's visit important to Taiwan? I think it's because a minister's meeting doesn't come about easily.
For any minister to visit a country, they would probably get some lower-ranking officers to visit, and usually there's some concrete result out of the minister's meeting. In our foreign service, a minister's meeting has something that cannot be replaced by a visit of lower-ranking officials. This is why it is not really symbolic in a sense. A minister's meeting will always carry out something concrete, something useful for bilateral relations, and this is why a ministerial visit is very much welcomed by Taiwan.
Bloc
Stéphane Bergeron Bloc Montarville, QC
Do you believe that one of the reasons why no minister has gone to Taiwan since 1998 is because of the fear of reprisals from the People's Republic of China?
What kind of retaliation would Canada face, should any minister decide to visit Taiwan?
Representative, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Canada
The response or retaliation from China with regard to a potential.... We are talking about a hypothetical situation. I think that would include a strong démarche from the Chinese embassy here. Some officials at GAC would have a hard time receiving a very harsh response from Chinese officials here. That is perhaps most commonly seen.
That other thing that I can think of off the cuff is maybe the cancellation of a potential Canadian visit to China that is on the schedule. That is a possibility, to the best of my knowledge.
Again, this needs some courage. It doesn't come lightly, but it will be an important decision for you to make. From Taiwan's perspective, we certain will welcome this kind of ministerial visit.
To be honest with you, we can be very creative. We can receive your ministers like we did with the visit of Minister John Manley in 1998. His visit didn't cause any serious repercussions. As a matter of fact, he came back to Canada to tell his friends that he didn't feel any pressure as a result of his visit to Taiwan. The pressure was maybe more before he went than after he came back.
I hope we won't be scared by our own concern, because we stand up to our moral courage. That is what I see.
Bloc
Stéphane Bergeron Bloc Montarville, QC
If the main retaliation that Canada could face is the cancellation or delay of already scheduled visits between Canada and the People's Republic of China, I think it is exposing itself to little. As far as I know, there are very few visits planned on either side for a number of months now.
Let's get out of the hypothetical sphere—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken Hardie
Mr. Bergeron, you are out of time, unfortunately. Five minutes goes twice as fast as two and half, it seems.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken Hardie
You had five minutes, but you will get another opportunity, so hold that question.
Ms. McPherson, you are next, for five minutes.
NDP
Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
These are very interesting questions on ministers travelling to Taiwan. As you know, we are looking forward to the Indo-Pacific strategy being released, and getting more information about that.
Mr. Tseng, I wonder how you would feel if this committee were to go to Taiwan as part of a visit of the Indo-Pacific region. If we were able to visit countries within the region, would you welcome members of this committee going to Taiwan for a visit?
Representative, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Canada
Without a doubt, the visit of the special committee with the members here would be more than welcome in Taiwan. I believe it would be conducive to the final draft of the Indo-Pacific strategy.
NDP
Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
You were very, very clear on the three things you asked Canada to do. Thank you for that clarity.
I would like to have a little more understanding of how the Canadian government has responded to that to date. I know you talked a bit about some of the places where you would like them to move a little further, and some of the areas where I think you can say the government has done a good job and we can be grateful for the work that all parliamentarians have done in supporting Taiwan. However, in terms of the Canadian government's response to those three asks, is there anything else you'd like to flag for us that the government could be doing more of on those specific things?
Representative, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Canada
To be honest, when we dropped the three points in the opening remarks, I hadn't had prior consultation with your officials. The way I see it, they are consistent with our existing policies because, as you can see, what is stressed here is to preserve peace, stability and prosperity. This is about advocating for multilateral assistance so peace and stability can be maintained in that part of the world. We are asking you to help maintain the status quo and are calling for countries to watch very closely. No country should take unilateral action to change the status quo.
All this, I think, falls very well under your current policy. In no way do I think it is contradictory to your policy on regional security in our part of the world.
The third point of the statement was about the meaningful participation of Taiwan in relevant international organizations. You have clearly shown your support in this regard. As I said, motions have been passed in the committee and in the House in that regard.
I hope we can reach an agreement on the points I have raised here. If there are more actions that we can take together, those would be more than welcome.
NDP
Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
I think this is one reason we want to see Taiwan at these international fora, because, of course, there's much we can learn from Taiwan. The response to COVID-19 in Taiwan was so strong, and the World Health Organization can learn from that. With the way you have dealt with the sustainable development goals in your international development efforts, you should be able to bring those lessons to the United Nations so they can be shared with other democracies around the world.
In terms of how Canada can support peaceful relations and peaceful dispute resolution, do you feel that the Canadian government has been strong enough in their language on those two things? Do you feel that the government has taken the opportunity to raise their voice enough at this point?
Representative, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Canada
I have discerned increasing improvement in our bilateral relations, and I know that it will take time for a policy to shift, but I think that is happening. There is more that can be done in our bilateral relations, and I think we will keep our minds open. We would like to take up any possible opportunities to talk to the officials in charge, to talk to the decision-makers and to talk to members of Parliament. That is something we are doing, sometimes quietly, with you. The environment in the world is changing very rapidly. For something we used to do slowly but surely, perhaps we need to speed up a bit. I hope we can have some consensus in that regard and then move things along in a faster manner.