Canada has been without an ambassador to China since late 2021, when Dominic Barton left the offices in Beijing.
According to the government, while a representative will be appointed “in due course”, Canada continues to engage with China at the “highest levels” in the meantime.
“Minister Joly recently met with her counterpart, Wang Yi, where they discussed the challenges of the past few years, including cases of arbitrary detention, and the importance of frank dialogue,” reads a statement. statement to CTVNews.ca from a spokesperson for the Minister of Foreign Affairs. .
“With strong cultural and people-to-people ties, they discussed possibilities for collaboration between the two countries in areas of mutual interest.”
But former ambassador to China Guy Saint-Jacques said the notable absence shows the prime minister “doesn’t understand” the value of a strong diplomatic presence on the ground.
“Having an ambassador gives you intelligence…because here is a person who can have access to high-level information [information] that other people at the embassy cannot,” he said. “You are depriving yourself of all this useful information.”
Barton publicly announced his resignation on Dec. 6, 2021, just months after helping secure the release of former diplomat and entrepreneur Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor.
The two men were arbitrarily detained and held in a Chinese prison for over 1,000 days. Their arrests are widely seen as retaliation for the arrest in Vancouver of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou following an extradition request from the United States.
These events launched what would become almost three years of frosty relations between Canada and China.
While Meng’s case was dropped and the Michaels returned to Canada, tensions rose in recent months when the government announced it would ban Chinese companies Huawei Technologies and ZET, another Chinese company, from participating in the Canada’s 5G wireless networks.
Ottawa cited national security concerns as the primary reason for the ban.
Following the announcement, China’s representative to Canada was quick to condemn the move, saying Ottawa was “colluding with the United States to suppress Chinese companies.”
“Canada’s alleged security concerns are nothing but a cover for political manipulation… The misguided actions of the Canadian side will certainly harm Canada’s interests and international image,” reads a series of tweets.
Saint-Jacques said there is a growing need to appoint an ambassador as Canada develops an Indo-Pacific strategy.
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly’s mandate letter calls for the strategy to seek to deepen diplomatic, economic and defense partnerships, as well as international assistance in the region.
She announced the creation of an Indo-Pacific advisory committee on June 9, to provide recommendations on the overall strategy. Barton is listed as a member.
The former ambassador says that while he respects the perspectives of appointees, he still sees the committee as a blocking tactic.
“It’s another tactic to delay decision-making and try to give some kind of cover. It is high time for the government to make a decision,” he said.
Conservative MP and foreign affairs critic Michael Chong echoed a similar sentiment in a statement to CTVNews.ca.
“We are still awaiting the government’s new policy on China, which has been promised since 2019, but never delivered – and now further delayed with the government’s recent announcement to consult further by setting up a special committee,” he said. declared.
The Indo-Pacific strategy is a notable departure from the government’s longstanding focus on the Asia-Pacific region in particular, and reflects a need to consider issues beyond those associated with China.
Chong added that the absence of a Canadian ambassador to China is “another example of the mismanagement of Canada-China relations by this government.”
“For the past six and a half years this government has been in power, it hasn’t had representation in Beijing for over a year. The government has had three ambassadors and one resigned in a scandal – not good signs for one of Canada’s most strained and important foreign relations,” he said.
NDP Foreign Affairs Critic Heather McPherson called the delay “unacceptable” and said it signaled to other countries that Canada was not prioritizing foreign policy.
“Canadians expect to be represented by diplomats who will defend their interests and those of our interests abroad,” she said in a statement to CTVNews.ca.
“This failure is part of a growing trend in which Canada’s status and role in the world is increasingly diminished by our diplomacy, peacekeeping efforts, humanitarian assistance and multilateralism.
Saint-Jacques warned that this trend could lead to failed alliances, pointing to the recently announced Partners in the Blue Pacific initiative to help Pacific island countries deal with climate change, security and Chinese influence. In the region.
The United States, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the United Kingdom have signed the agreement.
“There were probably people in Washington discussing this and saying what is the added value of having Canada? They are adrift at sea,” he said.