China and Canada hold first military talks in eight years
Quick Look
China and Canada held their first Defence Coordination Dialogue in eight years on Friday, signaling an effort to improve military-to-military communication and mutual trust amidst broader attempts to reset bilateral relations.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The meeting was the first Defence Coordination Dialogue since April 2018. It follows recent efforts by both nations to reset relations through high-level exchanges and trade discussions.
China and Canada’s armed forces held their first round of talks in eight years on Friday in the face of growing tensions with the United States.
The Chinese defence ministry said there had been a candid and in-depth exchange of views on international and regional issues of common concern.
“[Both sides] expressed willingness to strengthen practical exchanges and cooperation between the two militaries, and enhanced mutual understanding and trust,” the ministry added.
It was the first meeting through a channel known as the Defence Coordination Dialogue since April 2018 and the fifth since it was launched in 2013.
However during that time, the then Canadian defence minister Bill Blair met his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore in 2024.
China and Canada have been working to reset relations after years of tension by resuming high-level exchanges, expanding direct flights and working to ease trade tensions in areas such as agriculture and electric vehicles.
In July, Li Yao, the defence attache at the Chinese embassy in Canada, said the “continued improvement” of relations between the two countries had “created favourable conditions for closer communication and exchanges between the two militaries”.
Open Questions
- Will this dialogue lead to concrete military cooperation agreements?
- How will the US react to this thaw in China-Canada military relations?
