In a press release on June 21, Muskoka-Parry Sound Member of Parliament Scott Aitchison called on Canada to officially recognize Taiwan as an independent country.
Aitchison, who is running for the leadership of the Conservative Pary of Canada, stated that if he were elected and become Prime Minister, he would officially establish diplomatic relations to advance peace and prosperity throughout Asia-Pacific, and around the world.
Under his mandate, he also said Canada would renew its commitment to its regional partners in an effort to ‘strengthen the defence of freedom, democracy and shared values,’ stated his media release.
“Taiwan is an independent and sovereign country, a beacon of openness, democracy, respect for human rights, and a case study in the benefits of a market-based economy open to trading with the world,” he stated. “It is time for Canada to finally recognize this reality.”
According to the release, under Canada’s One China policy, the Canadian Government does not recognize Taiwan as a sovereign state and does not maintain official, government-to-government relations.
“For the better part of 50 years, Canada’s and Western foreign policy was premised on the basis that increased trade and prosperity with China would lead to greater adherence to human rights and liberalization of communism’s harsh edges,” he said. “We were wrong.”
Aitchison said if elected, he would work with Canada’s allies and trade partners to welcome Taiwan into the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and support the country’s efforts to join U.N. specialized agencies like the World Health Organization (WHO), obtain observer status at INTERPOL (international police), and the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC).
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The reason no western nations recognize Taiwan as an independent country is that it allows China to maintain the facade that it is a part of mainland China. If Canada recognizes Taiwan as an independent country then China will have an excuse to invade creating another scenario like Ukraine.