Tensions between Canada and China have cut short the B.C. government’s participation in the province’s largest ever forest sector trade mission to Asia.

Speaking from Tokyo today, Forest Minister Doug Donaldson says he and three other government members are heading home after meetings in Japan and South Korea.

About three dozens forest sector businesses though will be continuing to China to finish the trip.

Donaldson says with the investigation into the CFO of tech giant Huawei, he says having government staff on the trip would be distraction.

“This is a decision that we don’t take lightly, but it’s based on the current set of circumstances. And it’s a decision simply to postpone until a later date,” Donaldson says.

Donaldson says it was ultimately his decision to postpone the government’s role in the trade mission.

When asked if he was concerned about the government’s safety in China, Donaldson says, “I would say that there was uncertainty, and that uncertainty, especially around the impact it would have on the business portion of the trip, it was just more of a prudent decision to postpone.”

He adds at this point, the forest ministry plans to reschedule a visit to China in 2019.