SHANGHAI — As Justin Trudeau tours China, the Canadian government is making clear it’s open for Chinese business, but it remains tight-lipped on the South China Sea, signalling a shift in allegiances some believe could cool relations with the United States. RelatedAnd as tensions rise in the South China Sea ahead of the G20 summit this weekend, Canada appears reluctant to specifically call China out on the issue. Foreign minister Stephane Dion’s office confirmed the South China Sea was raised in a Wednesday meeting between Trudeau and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. As for Canada’s treatment of the South China Sea arbitration, he said the relative silence is “not encouraging but also not unexpected.”Conservative Party leadership hopeful Brad Trost was another recent visitor to China. China will want to steer G20 conversations away from the South China Sea issue, but as with any international rendezvous, it and other regional security issues threaten to dominate the agenda.

Source: National Post September 01, 2016 14:48 UTC