Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau twice called Japan “China” in meetings with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Ottawa on Sunday.
In a photo spray Sunday morning with Abe seated to his right, a stammering Trudeau struggled to make a simple diplomatic greeting. Midway he called Japan “China, “…on the occasion of uh, ninety years of uh, of, uh, diplomatic relations between Canada and China, of, uh, Canada and Japan, a very uh, au…auspicious moment…”
Prime Minister @JustinTrudeau welcomed his Japanese counterpart to Parliament Hill this morning. The two leaders will be discussing trade, and the upcoming G20 meeting in Osaka, among other issues. pic.twitter.com/Q57SDifPph
— Sarah Sears (@iamSas) April 28, 2019
Later in a press conference, Trudeau again called Japan “China” according to reporters.
“Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at a joint press conference with Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe: “I’m very very glad that you were able to make such time for the tremendous friendship that we celebrate between Canada and China.””
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at a joint press conference with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe: "I'm very very glad that you were able to make such time for the tremendous friendship that we celebrate between Canada and China."#CdnPoli
— Kris Pangilinan (@KrisReports) April 28, 2019
I believe Trudeau inadvertently referred to China-Canada relations right now during this meeting with Japan's PM.
(He'd made a similar slip earlier this morning: https://t.co/csxBxVjFhf)
— Josh Wingrove (@josh_wingrove) April 28, 2019
Brian Lilley, political columnist for the Toronto Sun, commented, “This is not good. Japan and China are not on friendly terms. Japan sees China as an economic and national security threat. The two countries have fought brutal wars. With this slip up @JustinTrudeau has embarrassed Canada on the world stage again.”
This is not good.
Japan and China are not on friendly terms. Japan sees China as an economic and national security threat. The two countries have fought brutal wars.
With this slip up @JustinTrudeau has embarrassed Canada on the world stage again. https://t.co/yyGPyCrxuh— Brian Lilley (@brianlilley) April 28, 2019
On Saturday, Abe tweeted a photo of himself and President Trump from his visit to D.C. this week.
昨日の首脳会談、4人だけの夕食会、そして本日のゴルフと、トランプ大統領と10時間以上を共に過ごすなかで、北朝鮮問題への対応、経済、G20大阪サミット、更には世界情勢に至るまで、様々な課題についてじっくりと話をすることができました。 pic.twitter.com/WYlTsLBD19
— 安倍晋三 (@AbeShinzo) April 27, 2019
(Auto translation: Yesterday’s summit meeting, the four-person dinner, and today’s golf, as well as spending more than 10 hours with President Trump, the response to the North Korean problem, the economy, the G20 Osaka Summit, and even the world situation, various I was able to talk carefully about the challenges that)
おもてなしに感謝申し上げるとともに、来月、令和最初の国賓として、トランプ大統領を日本にお迎えすることを楽しみにしています。 https://t.co/jPBRzEuy3y
— 安倍晋三 (@AbeShinzo) April 27, 2019
(Auto translation: Thank you for your hospitality, and I look forward to welcoming you to Japan President Trump as the first state guests in the next month.”
