Why Xi Jinping publicly rebuked Justin Trudeau, and what it means for Canada's relations with China

Xi Jinping's threatening rebuke of Justin Trudeau was a rare and surprising move by the Chinese president, and highlighted the disregard he has for the Canadian prime minister, according to some experts and former diplomats. 

"He certainly wouldn't speak like that to the U.S. president. So it does suggest that Mr. Xi has a degree of disdain for the prime minister and does not see Canada as an important partner," said Charles Burton, senior fellow with the Macdonald-Laurier Institute and a former diplomat to China.

Burton said he found the language used by Xi during his interaction with Trudeau at the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, to be "quite dismissive and threatening," indicating that any illusions the government has that China respects Canada as an influential nation in the world have long since disappeared.

"I just think in general, it was very unpleasant. I found it highly offensive on the part of his intent," Burton said.

"We have not seen the president of China engaging in this really quite undiplomatic, rough language with a counterpart leader of another country"

Trudeau and Xi spoke face to face briefly on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Bali on Tuesday. After the unofficial meeting, the Prime Minister's Office issued a readout of the conversation noting the topics that were discussed and who raised them. 

According to the readout, during the brief discussion between the two leaders — who have been at odds over trade, China's arrest and detention of two Canadians and Canada's arrest and detention of a Chinese Huawei executive — Trudeau raised concerns about media reports that China covertly funded 11 candidates in the 2019 federal election.

But the two later crossed paths again in a public space in Bali, in full view of the media, which captured their exchange.

Through an interpreter, Xi accused Trudeau of inappropriately leaking the content of their discussion, and also claimed that what was reported in the media was not an accurate reflection of their conversation.

Trudeau interrupted the Chinese leader, saying Canada believes in "free and open and frank dialogue," and that while they have disagreements, they should work together.

However, Xi's translator didn't translate everything the president said.

According to a translation by The Canadian Press, Xi also told Trudeau that "we should have conversations in a respectful way, otherwise, the result can't be predicted."

After the exchange, the pair shook hands and parted ways. 

During his closing media conference, Trudeau responded to the incident, saying that his government trusts its citizens want to be apprised of the work that he is doing on their behalf.