Canada's intelligence agencies have once again delivered a stark warning: China and India remain the two biggest foreign interference threats facing this country. Beijing has repeatedly targeted Canada's democratic institutions, diaspora communities and economic interests. India, meanwhile, has been linked to aggressive intelligence activity and intimidation campaigns on Canadian soil.

While Ottawa is being warned about the dangers posed by authoritarian powers, Prime Minister Mark Carney has moved rapidly to strengthen ties with China. His government has pursued what it calls a strategic partnership with Beijing, reopening trade channels and lowering tariffs. China is not simply another trading partner. It is a hostile foreign power that has interfered in Canadian elections, intimidated citizens and detained Canadians for political leverage.

Carney's outreach to Beijing has also raised serious questions about Canada's commitment to Taiwan. After his January trip to China, reports emerged that Canadian officials scaled back engagement with Taiwan to avoid antagonizing Beijing. More recently, Chinese diplomats openly warned Canadian parliamentarians against visiting Taiwan and cautioned Ottawa against military activity in the Taiwan Strait. When a foreign government feels comfortable dictating where Canadian elected officials may travel, Canada has a sovereignty problem.

Taiwan is a democratic partner and an important economic ally. Canada has longstanding unofficial relations with Taipei, including deep trade and investment ties. Allowing Beijing to pressure Ottawa into limiting those relations would send a dangerous signal, not only to China but to allies throughout the Indo-Pacific.

Democracies do not ask permission from authoritarian regimes before meeting other democracies.

At the same time, Canada's relationship with the United States has become increasingly strained. Washington remains Canada's largest trading partner, closest military ally and most important strategic friend. Any government that weakens that relationship while drawing closer to Beijing is taking an enormous gamble. Geography, economics and security all point south, not across the Pacific to a regime openly hostile to Western values and interests.

Canada must be clear-eyed. Trade diversification is sensible. Dependence on hostile powers is not. Cozying up to governments our own intelligence services identify as major threats is not prudent statecraft. It is a risk Canada can ill afford.