Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te on Tuesday, January 13, expressed gratitude to Canada for its support following recent Chinese military exercises and praised the strengthening relationship between the two sides, just ahead of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s upcoming visit to China. Although Canada, like most nations, does not formally recognize Taiwan due to Beijing’s claims over the island, political and economic ties between Taipei and Ottawa have continued to expand as China increases military pressure on the self-governed territory.

However, two lawmakers from Carney’s Liberal Party cut short their Taiwan visit this week after receiving guidance from the Canadian government to prevent any misunderstanding regarding Canada’s foreign policy before Carney’s Beijing trip. While meeting the remaining three delegates from Canada’s Conservative Party, Lai highlighted significant progress in Taiwan–Canada relations over the past three years, particularly in trade and technology, including the signing of a major investment agreement in 2023. He noted that bilateral cooperation continues to grow and deliver positive outcomes.

Lai also thanked the Canadian government for publicly voicing concern over China’s military drills around Taiwan last month, emphasizing that preserving peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait aligns with international consensus. Canadian naval vessels have periodically sailed through the Taiwan Strait — most recently in September — a move that has angered Beijing. Lai did not comment publicly on Carney’s upcoming China visit.

Melissa Lantsman, deputy leader of Canada’s Conservative Party, reaffirmed Canada’s support, stating that Taiwan remains a trusted partner and that the Taiwanese people have strong allies in Canada’s parliament. Taiwan’s foreign ministry downplayed the early departure of the two Liberal lawmakers, reiterating its commitment to strengthening cooperation and exchanges with Canada. During his China visit, Carney is expected to focus on trade and global security issues, particularly as Canada navigates strained relations with the United States amid ongoing trade disputes and political tensions with President Donald Trump.