China claims Taiwan as its territory under the “one China principle” and opposes foreign politicians visiting the island. The Democratic Republic of Taiwan’s government rejects China’s claims. “We urge the Canadian side to uphold the one-China principle and respect China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the Chinese embassy in Canada said in a statement sent late Tuesday. “China will take decisive and forceful measures against any country that attempts to interfere or violate China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the Chinese embassy said. Members of a Canada-Taiwan parliamentary “friendship group,” which receives no administrative or financial support from the Canadian parliament, planned to visit the self-governing island in October, Liberal MP Judy Sgro said last week. Sgro said the trip would focus on trade and the lawmakers’ intention was not to disrupt and create problems in Taiwan or with China. In a statement, the Canadian government said that parliamentary associations and friendship groups are independent and that it respected MPs’ intention to visit Taiwan. Canada, like the rest of the West, follows a one-China policy that diplomatically recognizes Beijing rather than Taipei, while unofficially supporting Taiwan. The relationship between China and the West has soured since US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan earlier this month against Beijing’s wishes.
