The Chinese government said it was willing to resort to “forceful measures” should Canada interfere in Taiwan.
China’s warning comes at a time when the federal government mulls sending a delegation of officials to the island nation.
“We urge the Canadian side to abide by the one-China principle and respect China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” wrote the Chinese embassy in Canada.
“China will take resolute and forceful measures against any country that attempts to interfere with or infringe upon China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
A trade diplomatic visit has been planned by Ottawa for October. According to Liberal MP Judy Sgro, Canada has no intention to further disrupt relations with China.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urged MPs to consider all possible consequences of a possible trip to Taiwan.
“There are significant reflections going on right now,” Trudeau said earlier this month.
“Canada has a long-standing position around China and Taiwan that we will ensure to respect. China’s belligerence around this and their position is, of course, as it has been for a while, troubling,” he added.
“We will ensure that the parliamentarians making the decision to travel or not will be done with all the reflections of the consequences and the impacts of it.”
Tensions with Beijing have been heightened ever since US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan early in August.
“Pelosi’s visit was a political farce and a dangerous, malicious provocation. Pelosi made this provocative visit in disregard of China’s warning,” wrote the Chinese embassy in Canada.
“The visit seriously infringed upon China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity; violated the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-US joint communiqués; affected the political foundation of China-US relations; and gravely undermined peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.”
In response to the visit, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) staged advanced military drills in the area surrounding Taiwan.
“The Chinese People’s Liberation Army continues to train and prepare for war, resolutely defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and resolutely crush any form of ‘Taiwan independence’ separatism and foreign interference attempts,” said PLA spokesperson Wu Qian.
This is not the first time China has threatened Canada with retaliation over its relations with Taiwan.
In June, the Canadian Armed Forces reported that Chinese fighter jets buzzed Canadian aircraft on a routine mission near North Korea.
