'Eyes wide open': Minister's answer on Canadian journalists carrying 'burner phones' in China goes viral

Canada minister Melanie Joly's reply to a question on whether China is the right partner for Canada, given that the journalists covering PM Mark Carney's visit to China have been carrying burner phones, has gone viral as the minister did not dismiss it.

"Asking a general question about investing in China. There's a ton of experts we've spoken to in the business community in Canada who are gun-shy about investing in China. Joint ventures aren't such —it's China win, it's not win-win. We're using burner phones for the first time we've covered this because China spies on journalists and businessmen, trying to intercept communications. Is China really the right kind of partner for Canadian industry?" Global News journalist David Akin asked the minister.





While it came straight from the horse's mouth that they were carrying burner phones, the minister did not sidestep the question. "Listen, we've been clear-eyed. We are eyes wide open. We know this," the minister said.

"But there have been investments by Canadian companies for years here," Joly said.





Carney's state visit to China is the first visit by a Canadian leader in eight years as the two countries hail their 'new strategic partnership' that comes in the wake of US aggression. Carney announced on Friday that Canada and China had reached a preliminary trade deal aimed at reducing tariffs, including a commitment to import 49,000 electric vehicles from China at preferential tariff rates.

Addressing Xi in the Great Hall of the People, Carney said: “Together we can build on the best of what this relationship has been in the past to create a new one adapted to new global realities.”

China is expected to lower levies on Canadian canola oil from 85% to 15% by 1 March, while Ottawa has agreed to tax Chinese electric vehicles at the most-favoured-nation rate, 6.1%, Carney told reporters.