Are Sino-Canadian Relations Thawing?

Joly and Wang met in Munich

China seems to be extending Canada an olive branch, as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with his Canadian counterpart Melanie Joly on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.

Wang said the two countries were "not rivals, let alone enemies", an interesting development in the tense relationship between China and Canada particularly since the Meng Wanzhou incident that involved the incarceration of the two Michaels, Kovrig and Spavor.

Discussions between Joly (left) and Wang

In addition, Canada accuses China of meddling in its elections in 2019 and 2021, and Ottawa expelled Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei last May over allegations of intimidating Conservative MP Michael Chong. 

That then led Beijing to expel Jennifer Lynn Lalonde, a consul of the Consulate General of Canada in Shanghai.

Wang told Joly the "current difficult situation... is not what China wants to see", according to a Chinese foreign ministry readout released on Sunday.

"The two sides are not rivals, let alone enemies, and should become cooperative partners," he said.

Wang urged Canada to "stop hyping the 'China threat theory' and stop spreading false information about so-called China interference in domestic affairs".

Perhaps he's referring to the public inquiry into foreign interference by countries like China, India and Russia that started in September last year. In interim report is expected at the end of February, and a final report at the end of the year. 

While it's a positive sign to see China willing to restart relations with Canada again, it can't have its cake and eat it too.