The crisis in the Strait of Hormuz did not create “Fortress China.” It validated it. Western commentary increasingly portrays Beijing’s push for a fortress economy as a reactive response to mounting geopolitical shocks, from the Ukraine war and the ongoing U.S.–China trade confrontation to the crisis in Hormuz. But this framing mistakes context for cause.
Canadian PM Mark Carney’s trip to Beijing last month produced a framework for bilateral partnership that includes tariff reductions on EVs and agricultural products, expansion in cooperation on energy and investment, and limited law enforcement deals. The pragmatic reset comes at a crossroads, following a decade of controversy and diplomatic estrangement.
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