Chinese media reported that China and Canada are in talks on resuming regular defence dialogue, after military communication channels between the two had effectively lapsed in recent years.

The dialogue under discussion is a working-level mechanism covering military policy and maritime safety, with communication procedures and rules of behaviour during encounters the main items on the agenda.

Why the talks stopped

Relations cooled for several years as trade and consular disputes accumulated, and military exchanges lapsed along with them. During that period there were repeated reports of close encounters between the two countries' aircraft and vessels in the western Pacific.

When close encounters recur while military channels remain closed, situations must be managed on the judgement of those present. Specialists in both countries have consistently noted that such conditions raise the risk of miscalculation.

Conditions for resumption

Resuming talks does not by itself signal improved relations. Restoring a working channel is less about removing disagreement than about preventing accidents while disagreement persists.

The two sides are reported to be continuing consultations on timing and format. Observers expect that even a first meeting would confine itself to incident management.

No official Canadian announcement has been confirmed. Consultations of this kind are usually made public only after both sides coordinate the timing of their statements.