Conservative MP Michael Chong met with Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te this week in a high-profile visit that signals how a future Conservative government might approach China relations—and risks provoking Beijing's ire ahead of Canada's federal election.
The meeting in Taipei, reported by the Globe and Mail, represents Canada's most senior official contact with Taiwan's leadership in years. Chong, the Conservative foreign affairs critic, held discussions on semiconductor cooperation, democratic values, and shared concerns about Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific.
"Democracies must stand together," Chong said in a statement from Taipei. "Canada has important economic and security interests in the Indo-Pacific, and Taiwan is a critical partner in protecting those interests."
The visit carries particular weight given Chong's personal history with Beijing. In 2023, Canadian intelligence revealed that Chinese officials had targeted Chong and his family in Hong Kong for his criticism of China's human rights record and his advocacy for the Uyghur minority. The harassment included surveillance and potential threats against relatives—making his Taiwan visit a direct rebuke to Chinese intimidation tactics.
In Canada, as Canadians would politely insist, we're more than just America's neighbor—we're a distinct nation with our own priorities. The Chong visit reflects growing Canadian independence in policy, even as it risks economic consequences from 's second-largest trading partner.
