The minister blames China for its unpredictability, its refusal to respect the rules and its growing international footprint.
Mr. Sajjan expressed his comments as the Canadian Armed Forces increasingly prepare for the next great global competition between soaring China and the West.
However, he refused, during an interview with The Canadian Press, to describe China as an adversary. He stressed the importance of diplomatic talks in relations with Beijing.
According to Sajjan, the detention of two Canadians in apparent retaliation for the arrest of Meng Wanzhou, a senior executive at Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei, demonstrates how China is circumventing international treaties and rules.
He also worried about how China spends money in different parts of the world and grants loans to various countries that become dependent on Beijing.
The Minister of Defense in particular underlined the importance for Canada and its allies to remain on the same wavelength to present a credible force of dissuasion against any aggression from China.
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