China announced on Monday that Canadian passport holders can now enter the country visa-free for stays of up to 15 days, marking a dramatic thaw in relations between Beijing and Ottawa after years of deep hostility—and coming at precisely the moment when Canada's relationship with the United States has deteriorated sharply.
The policy change, effective immediately, makes Canada the latest Western nation granted visa-free access as China seeks to rebuild international ties and boost its struggling tourism sector. However, the timing carries unmistakable geopolitical significance, arriving just days after Canada excluded American defence contractors from a $7 billion military procurement program.
"This is a positive step that will facilitate people-to-people exchanges between China and Canada," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular press briefing in Beijing. The announcement was first reported by CBC News.
To understand today's headlines, we must look at yesterday's decisions. Relations between China and Canada collapsed in 2018 when Canadian authorities arrested Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of Huawei, on a US extradition warrant related to sanctions violations. Beijing retaliated by detaining two Canadian citizens—Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor—on espionage charges widely viewed as politically motivated.
The "two Michaels" were held for nearly three years in harsh conditions before being released in September 2021, only hours after Meng's extradition case was resolved and she was allowed to return to China. The incident poisoned bilateral relations and led to a collapse in trade, investment, and diplomatic engagement.
The visa waiver represents the most significant positive gesture from Beijing toward Ottawa since that crisis. It follows a series of quiet diplomatic contacts in recent months and a gradual normalization of consular services disrupted during the pandemic.
However, the announcement cannot be separated from the broader context of Canada's fraying relationship with the United States. President Trump's repeated suggestions that Canada should become the "51st state" and his territorial claims regarding Greenland have infuriated Canadian officials and the public. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government has responded by distancing itself from Washington on multiple fronts, including defence procurement and trade policy.
"China is not stupid," said Charles Burton, a senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute and former Canadian diplomat in Beijing. "They see an opportunity to drive a wedge between Canada and the United States at a moment when the relationship is already strained. The visa waiver is a low-cost gesture that signals Beijing's willingness to engage if Ottawa shows reciprocal interest."
Canadian officials have been careful to emphasize that the visa policy does not represent a fundamental shift in Canada's assessment of China as a strategic challenge. Ottawa has joined the United States in restricting Huawei from 5G networks, criticized Beijing's human rights record in Xinjiang and Hong Kong, and maintained restrictions on Chinese investment in sensitive sectors.
However, the fact that Canada is now opening channels with Beijing while closing doors to Washington—at least symbolically—reflects a significant recalibration. For decades, Canadian foreign policy operated on the assumption that alignment with the United States was both strategically necessary and politically sustainable. That assumption is now being questioned.
The visa waiver applies to tourism and business visits up to 15 days. Canadian citizens travelling to China for work, study, or longer stays will still require appropriate visas. The policy mirrors arrangements China has made with several European nations, Australia, and New Zealand in recent months as part of a broader effort to revive inbound tourism.
Canadian tourism to China collapsed during the pandemic and the subsequent diplomatic freeze. In 2019, before the Meng Wanzhou crisis fully escalated, approximately 700,000 Canadians visited China annually. That number fell to near zero during COVID-19 and has remained depressed due to political tensions and lingering public wariness.
Whether the visa waiver will significantly boost Canadian travel to China remains uncertain. Polling data suggests that Canadian public opinion toward China remains deeply negative, with majorities expressing concern about human rights, espionage, and political interference.
However, the business community has welcomed the move. Canadian executives in sectors such as agriculture, natural resources, and education have chafed at the diplomatic freeze, arguing that economic engagement can coexist with frank disagreements on political issues.
"We need to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time," said Perrin Beatty, CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. "We can have serious concerns about China's governance while still maintaining trade and people-to-people ties."
For Beijing, the visa announcement serves multiple purposes: it signals goodwill toward Ottawa, demonstrates that China is open for business despite Western criticism, and subtly exploits divisions within the Western alliance. Whether Canada reciprocates with similar visa facilitation for Chinese visitors—a move that would face domestic political resistance—will be the next test of how far normalization can proceed.
In the meantime, the contrast is stark: as Washington and Ottawa squabble over military procurement and presidential rhetoric, Beijing is extending an open hand. The question is whether Canada will take it, and at what cost to its traditional alliances.
