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Canada's Foreign Minister Melanie Joly: met China for bilateral talks
Photo: Brendan Smialowski / AFP
The world is full of hot spots, from the war in Ukraine to the conflict in the Gaza Strip. However, one major power that usually gets involved everywhere remains calm: the People's Republic of China. Canada has now called on the government in Beijing to work for safe shipping routes in the Red Sea. In addition, China should no longer help Russia to circumvent international sanctions.
Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly told Reuters on Sunday, the final day of the Munich Security Conference, that she had told China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi that Beijing needed to help influence the Houthi militias. China should work to keep the Red Sea open. This is also in China's interest as an exporter. The conversation took place at a bilateral meeting on Saturday.
The Houthis, allied with Iran, have recently repeatedly attacked merchant ships in the Red Sea and justified this with solidarity with the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The US and Britain have already called on China to use its influence over Iran.
Loophole in the sanctions system
Joly also said she spoke with Yi about maintaining Western sanctions against Russia given the protracted war in Ukraine. Maximum pressure must be exerted on Russia. Western sanctions are tough and China should not be the loophole in the sanctions system. China significantly increased its crude oil imports from Russia last year.
Yi said on Saturday after meeting Joly that it was necessary to restore trust with Canada after years of diplomatic tensions. Relations between the two countries deteriorated at the end of 2018 after Canadian police arrested a Chinese telecom executive. Shortly afterwards, two Canadians were arrested in China on suspicion of espionage. Last year, the Canadian Parliament investigated alleged Chinese interference in Canadian elections.
mrc/Reuters