Poilievre Says China Could Be Largest Threat to Canada

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says an aggressive China could constitute the largest threat to Canada and the world.

The Tory leader made the comments April 2 on a popular podcast program called The Diary of a CEO. Days earlier, Poilievre also appeared on the show of famous podcaster Joe Rogan.

Poilievre told podcast host Steven Bartlett that China is a “spectacular and brilliant civilization” that could work with other countries to advance trade and contribute to world “harmony.”

However, pointing to the ruling regime in China, he said it could be the biggest threat to Canada and the world. China has been ruled by the Chinese Communist Party since 1949.

“If it [takes] a very aggressive, bellicose approach—using technology for espionage, interference in foreign countries, as they have done in Canada, invading Taiwan—then China and Beijing, in particular, the regime, could become the biggest risk and threat to our country and our world,” Poilievre said.

When asked if he believed that the United States is currently in a war with China, Poilievre cited “Thucydides’s Trap,” a concept of political scientist Graham Allison that describes how an emerging power threatening to displace an existing power often leads to war.

Poilievre also indicated he believes that the U.S. military operations in Venezuela and Iran, and its pressuring of Cuba, are part of a broader strategy to counter China by targeting its allies. “There is the war that we watch on the evening news, and the real interest behind them that is driving it,” Poilievre said.

Poilievre was also asked whether he believes Canada should have nuclear weapons, and said he doesn’t believe so. “I don’t know what we would get from it. We don’t have any desire to threaten anyone with nuclear weapons,” he said.

Iran War, Canadian Energy

When Bartlett asked if the United States had made the right decision by launching a war with Iran, Poilievre said the Iranian government had been “extremely hostile and very dangerous to Canada.” He cited the 2020 incident where the Ukraine International Flight PS752 was shot down by Iran, which killed 55 Canadian citizens and 30 permanent residents.

Poilievre said that Iran is the “leading world sponsor of terrorism” and has been enriching uranium to levels beyond what is needed for civilian nuclear power.

“The Iranian government cannot be allowed to develop nuclear weapons, and any action to stop them from doing that is necessary for world peace,” he said.

When asked about Canada potentially sending soldiers to support U.S. operations against Iran, Poilievre said he and Carney were in support of the attack, but “that is distinct from contributing Canadian soldiers, sailors, and air crew.”

“It depends on what they ask for,” he added.

When asked about the rising price of oil due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Poilievre said it “shouldn’t have to concern Canadians” because of the country’s oil supply. Poilievre said the Canadian dollar used to rise in tandem with the price of oil, as countries had to buy Canada’s dollar to purchase its oil.

“We used to be protected from international oil price increases in a way that we’re not anymore, because our sector is no longer as strong and as big as it was, as a share of our economy,” he said.

US Trade Relations

When asked about his relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump, Poilievre said he has “never met him,” and has no plans to speak with him any time soon. “Even though I obviously disagree with my prime minister on a whole range of policy issues, I don’t want to undermine, in any way, the Canadian side of the bargaining table,” Poilievre said.

Poilievre repeated that Canada’s approach to Trump’s tariffs should be to “focus on what we can control” by unlocking the country’s energy resources, building up a reserve of strategic minerals, and building overseas alliances.

Poilievre was also asked about Trump’s repeated comments about Canada becoming the 51st state, which Poilievre said would “never happen.” The Tory leader said he believes the United States is making a “very big strategic mistake” by criticizing and tariffing its allies.

“I think America would be better off working with the traditional Western alliance that helped win the Cold War,” Poilievre said, citing America’s strategy of building up a strong NATO alliance in response to the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

“In Canada’s case, we have everything the United States needs, if they treat us like a friend,” he said.