Canada quietly cozies up to China with first 'defense coordination talks' in 8 years

Canada is cozying up to China in military talks around eight years after the communist country jailed two Canadians in late 2018. Officials from the two nations had a “defense coordination dialogue," according to a statement from China's Ministry of National Defense.

The talks come as tensions between the US and Canada have been increasing with a trade war between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Mark Carney. Trump has threatened to impose greater tariffs on Canadian imports that would start in January. 

In a statement to the Globe and Mail, a spokesperson for Canada's Department of National Defence, Nick Drescher Brown, said on Monday, “As part of ongoing working-level dialogue, Canadian and Chinese defence officials met on September 4, in support of ongoing military-to-military communications at the functional level."

“This meeting is consistent with Canada’s broader defence engagement with partners across the Indo-Pacific region and is anchored in our commitment to protecting the safety of Canadians and the strategic interests of Canada. As a matter of longstanding practice, the Government of Canada does not publicize working-level meetings by officials," Brown added.

Between 2013 and 2018, the two countries had multiple meetings regarding defense, however, the last one to take place was in April 2018 and then the two Canadians were arrested in Beijing.

The outlet reported that there were 10 staff members from the Canadian Armed Forces, the Department of National Defence, and the Department of Global Affairs at the meeting with the Chinese officials.

Beijing, in a statement online, said that the meeting led to the sharing of "candid and in-depth exchange of views on international and regional issues of mutual interest, expressed willingness to strengthen practical exchanges and cooperation between the two militaries, and enhanced mutual understanding and trust.”

China has become more assertive in recent years in the Indo-Pacific region, carrying out military exercises next to nearby countries as well as putting more pressure on Taiwan.