OTTAWA, ON – The Hon. Erin O’Toole, Leader of Canada’s Conservatives and the Official Opposition, today released the following statement on the latest revelations of Justin Trudeau’s naïve approach to Communist China:

“I am very concerned. Canada’s entanglement with Communist China under Justin Trudeau is worse than anyone could have imagined.

“Global Affairs Canada, under influence from the Trudeau Liberals, has been pressuring Canada’s military to have joint exercises and cooperation with the Communist Chinese military: the People’s Liberation Army.

“Justin Trudeau has ignored the advice of our military and allies for years on China. This dangerously naïve approach has put Canada at risk – over and over again.

“Today is the anniversary of the illegal abduction and imprisonment of two innocent Canadians in China. For months, China has unfairly targeted our farmers. For years, the Chinese Communist Party has been carrying out the mass internment of the Uyghurs in concentration camps.

“And still the Liberals keep pushing for more involvement with China.

“Our military wanted to end joint exercises with China because the theft of intellectual property, cyberespionage, and influence operations are not an occasional occurrence with China, they are the norm.

“Let me be very clear. China does not act like a partner or a friend. It is time Trudeau government stops the dangerous influence of Chinese money and operatives.

“The government’s new framework with respect to Communist China needs to be implemented now.

“The government needs to wake up – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s naïve approach to China must stop now.”