Trudeau minister slips up, calls Taiwan a country

"Taiwan has been extremely successful in handling the COVID-19 pandemic within its own country and I think there are things to be learned from their experience," declared the minister.

So to give an impression that the Trudeau government is tough on China, the Liberal government has also begun to criticize Beijing's foreign policy.

Trudeau's defence minister Harjit Sajjan told the House of Common's special committee on China that he was opposed to Chinese claims over international water, according to Global News.

"Canada opposes land reclamation projects and building outposts in disputed areas for military purposes," said the minister.

"We will continue supporting our allies and partners in the Asia Pacific region, especially in the face of unilateral actions that undermine peace and stability," he added.

The Chinese government has taken a particularly aggressive stance in recent weeks over their land claims in the South China Sea and the island of Taiwan.

Despite this, the minister did not answer questions relating to the Politico story that alleges the Trudeau government wanted to pressure an international security conference on behalf of Beijing.