Jolie warns Canadian companies of ‘risks’ of doing business with China, says new policies are imminent – National

Foreign Minister Melanie Jolie warned Wednesday that Canadians must consider the “geopolitical risks” of doing business in China, confirming she will come “within a month” of the policy. Expectations are high for the reset.

Speaking at the University of Toronto’s Musk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, Jolie made some of her most astute comments about the Chinese government yet and promised to change Canada’s policy toward Canada.

“My message to Canadians doing business in or with China is that they need to keep their eyes open,” Jolie said.

“The (decisions) you make as a business person are your own. As Canada’s top diplomat, my job is to communicate the geopolitical risks associated with doing business with this country.”

In his speech, Jolie detailed Canada’s plans to deepen its ties with the Indo-Pacific region and take a tougher approach to threats emanating from that part of the world. A “fully funded” Indo-Pacific strategy will be launched “within a month,” she said.

The announcement followed Global News reports of an alleged foreign interference campaign by China in Canada.

Canada’s intelligence services have told Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that China has targeted Canada in a massive campaign of foreign intervention, including funding a secret network of at least 11 federal candidates running in the 2019 election. It warned that it was targeting them, Global News reported Monday.

Speaking Wednesday, Jolie assured Canadians that the government would “do more to tackle foreign interference”.

“We will not allow foreigners to interfere in our democracy. Period,” she said.

Jolie added that Canada needs to address foreign influence both domestically and in the “digital realm.”

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As part of that effort, the government will “invest in developing a better understanding of how China thinks, operates, and plans. How it affects us locally and around the world.”

The Canadian network’s main embassies have “dedicated experts” to help deepen the government’s understanding of China’s goals and challenges, Jolie said.

“This will be the focus of our diplomatic efforts,” she said.

Jolie offered few specific details about the plan and did not reveal how much funding would be allocated to it, but Canada’s new approach to China will be announced in its Indo-Pacific Strategy to be announced next month. He assured the room that it would be “outlined.”

“Without it, there would be no Indo-Pacific strategy,” she said.

Throughout her speech, Jolie provided information on future strategies.

The government will also add a “National Economic Security Lens” for foreign investment in Canada, including the critical minerals sector.

Joly recognized that China’s “huge scale” means that Canada cannot be completely separated from its dealings with China. The Chinese government’s cooperation is necessary to address issues such as global health, climate change and nuclear non-proliferation, she said.

Yet she is a sharp critic of China’s expanding expansionist ambitions, not only for its widely documented human rights violations against Uyghurs in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, but also for strengthening its control over Hong Kong and threatening Taiwan’s independence. There is

“China is becoming an increasingly disruptive world power,” Jolie said.

“It aims to shape a more tolerant global environment to interests and values ​​that are increasingly alienating from ours.”

Canada will “always” distinguish between the actions of the Chinese government and the actions of the Chinese, she said. However, China’s rise as a global actor is forcing countries to reframe their ‘strategic outlook’ in the region.

“Frankly, decisions made in this region will affect the lives of Canadians for generations,” Jolie said.

“We have to get to the table, step up our game, and increase our impact.”

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