Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to China from 13–17 January 2026 marks the first such trip by a Canadian prime minister in more than eight years, once again drawing global attention to Beijing’s human rights record. This visit is not merely an effort to reassess bilateral relations; it is also a test of how firmly Canada upholds its commitment to human rights on the global stage. US-based human rights organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged Carney to place human rights at the core of the visit. The organization argues that diplomatic engagement cannot be used to sideline China’s widespread repression within its borders or its growing extraterritorial impact. The trip comes amid deep mistrust and offers a decisive opportunity to confront these issues directly.
Bilateral relations deteriorated notably after Chinese authorities detained two Canadian citizens between 2018 and 2021 widely viewed as retaliation for Canada’s arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou. HRW regards Carney’s visit as a rare and critical window to apply direct diplomatic pressure over longstanding human rights violations.
HRW focuses particular attention on abuses against Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslim communities in Xinjiang, including mass detentions, forced labor, and the systematic destruction of cultural and religious life. According to HRW, the United Nations, and several governments, these abuses amount to crimes against humanity and represent one of the gravest human rights crises of our time. Carney is expected to ensure enforcement of International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions ratified by Canada and to take concrete action against persistent state-sponsored abuses. Despite import bans, goods produced through forced labor continue to enter Canadian markets, underscoring the urgent need for ethical trade practices.
Beyond Xinjiang, human rights violations in China have taken on a broad and systemic character. Labour rights have deteriorated nationwide, with trade unions banned, activists imprisoned, and peaceful protests routinely suppressed. In Hong Kong, nearly 300,000 Canadian citizens are witnessing the erosion of fundamental freedoms under national security laws that have severely weakened freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, judicial independence, and fair trials. HRW has called on Canada to demand the release of media entrepreneur and press-freedom symbol Jimmy Lai, who was convicted in December 2025.
As HRW Deputy Asia Director Maya Wang stated:“Prime Minister Carney should recognize that the Chinese government’s deepening repression threatens not only the rights of people in China but increasingly Canada’s core interests and values.”
According to HRW, issues such as forced labour imports, the imprisonment of human rights defenders, overseas targeting of dissidents, and drone transfers should be raised during the visit.
Human rights concerns should not be limited to Xinjiang alone. Taiwan continues to face military intimidation, hybrid warfare, and disinformation campaigns that undermine its democratic system despite Taiwan’s importance to Canada’s Indo-Pacific strategy. In Tibet, under the policy of so-called “Sinicization,” monasteries are being demolished, religious practices restricted, nomadic communities surveilled, and centuries-old culture systematically erased developments documented by both HRW and the United Nations. In Inner Mongolia, the imposition of Mandarin only education and harsh crackdowns on protests further illustrate the suppression of minority communities. In all these cases, Carney is expected to support the principle of self-determination.
Maya Wang’s stark warning underscores the decisive challenge facing Carney. This visit goes beyond diplomacy it represents a moral test for Canada, where economic interests and ethical obligations stand in direct tension. HRW argues that prioritizing human rights not only increases pressure on Beijing but also aligns Canada’s foreign policy with democratic values, global responsibilities, and the expectations of its citizens. The decisions Prime Minister Carney makes today will determine whether Canada is remembered as a defender of economic expediency or as a symbol of ethical leadership.
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