Recently, a group of premiers from all 13 provinces and territories in Canada visited the United States. They lobbied US lawmakers, business groups, and labor leaders, trying to persuade the US to be lenient on the issue of tariffs. In an attempt to convince the US, some Canadian politicians even played the "China card", depicting China as a common economic enemy.

The US leader has repeatedly belittled Canada, saying it should be the 51st state of the US, and mocked Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as a "governor". Earlier this month, citing fentanyl and illegal immigration as reasons, the US threatened to impose an additional 25 percent tariff on Canadian imports. Most recently, the US announced a 25 percent tariff on all imported steel and aluminum, with Canada bearing the brunt of that.

Unable to stand up to the US, some Canadian politicians have resorted to the trick of opposing China and smearing it, in the hope the US will show leniency to Canada as a comrade in arms. Over the years, Canada has continuously introduced measures against China in the political, security and economic fields, from the illegal detention of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou to the ban on Chinese 5G equipment.

As long as one views the relationship between China and Canada rationally, there is no fundamental conflict of interest between the two. China is Canada's second-largest trading partner, source of imports and export market. The relationship between China and Canada was originally developing well, but as the US regards China as its primary strategic rival and comprehensively seeks to contain and suppress it, cooperation between China and Canada has continually cooled, as Canada has toed the US line.

Over the past year, while some Western countries have chosen to improve relations with China, Canadian politicians still refuse to fundamentally correct their erroneous understanding of China, losing valuable opportunities for cooperation with China, and not gaining any goodwill from the US either.

This year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Canada, as well as the 20th anniversary of the establishment of a strategic partnership. Currently, Canada is at a turning point of political change. For the country's leaders, whether they can maintain strategic independence, refuse to mindlessly follow the US' China policy, and return to a rational understanding of China is undoubtedly a crucial test.

CHINA MEDIA GROUP