After the Liberal government defined Canada’s relationship with China as a strategic alliance, the prime minister’s visit to Beijing inevitably carried more weight. This was not simply a matter of timing or protocol. It reflected a decision about how Canada wishes to navigate a more contested international landscape. Choices of this kind extend beyond trade or messaging, and when a NATO member edges closer to an authoritarian system, allies recalibrate while competitors probe for advantage.
This is not a circumstance that can be managed through repeated talking points. It demands a harder look informed by experience, available evidence, and the practical obligations Canada has assumed within its alliance relationships.
