Breaking Down Canada's Stand on China's Taiwan Claim: A Call for Clarity and Action
Advocacy group in Canada calls for strong backing of Taiwan's sovereignty
Hey there, folks! Let's dive into a heated international issue that's been brewing for quite some time now: Canada's stance on China's claim over Taiwan.
Recently, the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, a Canadian public policy think tank, has issued a strong recommendation: it's high time Ottawa shed its diplomatic ambiguity regarding Taiwan's status and take a firm stand in favor of Taiwan's sovereignty and democracy.
According to the institute's report, Canada has been treading on diplomatic expediency since establishing ties with China in 1970. So far, Canada has merely agreed to "take note" of Beijing's position on Taiwan, neither endorsing nor challenging it. However, Canadian courts have treated Taiwan as a de facto state in legal rulings, acknowledging its separation from PRC governance.
Taiwan, it seems, meets all the criteria for statehood under the Montevideo Convention, which defines a state as having a permanent population, defined territory, government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states. The institute points out that China's claim that UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 gave it sovereignty over Taiwan is a misleading statement, as the resolution does not even mention Taiwan.
China's legal strategy, referred to as "international lawfare," is designed to prevent the UN from supporting Taiwan in case of conflict, much like what happened with Ukraine following the 2022 Russian invasion. The report urges Ottawa to publicly distinguish between Canada’s “One-China Policy” and the “One-China Principle” that China wants to impose on the world.
The Macdonald-Laurier Institute suggests several proactive steps for Ottawa. First and foremost, it calls for publicly clarifying Canada's stance and the right to define its own relationship with Taiwan without external interference. It also recommends conducting regular naval transits of the Taiwan Strait, asserting the importance of peace and freedom of navigation in the region as a global public good.
Moreover, the institute suggests strengthening alliances with countries like Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines to deter China's aggressive actions. Furthermore, it advises bolstering Taiwan's economic resilience by expanding bilateral trade and investment in critical areas such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and strategic mineral and energy supply chains. Such efforts, according to the report, would lay the groundwork for the people of Taiwan to exercise their right to self-determination as promised in international law.
In short, the Macdonald-Laurier Institute asserts that China's intention to annex Taiwan poses a significant risk to Canada, and it's time for Ottawa to take decisive action to preserve Taiwan's autonomy and the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. Stay tuned for updates on Canada's stance on this complex and evolving international issue!
- The Macdonald-Laurier Institute, in their report discussing Canada's stance on China's claim over Taiwan, proposes that Ottawa should recalibrate its policy and legislation to integrate a firm stand in support of Taiwan's sovereignty and democracy.
- The report further suggests that Canada needs to define its relationship with Taiwan without external influences, in the realm of politics and general news, as maintaining diplomatic ambiguity has been a questionable strategy ever since establishing ties with China in 1970.
- The institute argues that Taiwan meets the criteria for statehood as defined by the Montevideo Convention, which includes having a permanent population, defined territory, government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states, yet China's claim that UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 gave it sovereignty over Taiwan is not supported by the resolution's text.
- In light of China's legal strategy designed to prevent international support for Taiwan in case of conflict, similar to its actions against Ukraine following the 2022 Russian invasion, the Macdonald-Laurier Institute advises Ottawa to distinguish between Canada's "One-China Policy" and the "One-China Principle" that China wants to impose globally, to ensure the maintenance of peace and freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait.
