Canada launches Indo-Pacific strategy with eye on ‘disruptive’ PRC
Radio Free Asia
Canada has launched a long-awaited Indo-Pacific strategy to advance its “regional peace and security interests” as a Pacific nation, with indications of a tougher stance against the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
Relations between Ottawa and Beijing have been strained since Canada arrested Meng Wanzhou, a senior executive at the Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei, in 2018 at the request of the United States. Meng returned to China in September 2021 after reaching an agreement with U.S. prosecutors on fraud charges. At the same time, the PRC released two Canadians who had been detained since shortly after Meng’s arrest.
“Canada’s evolving approach to China is a critical part of the Indo-Pacific Strategy,” according to the document released in late November 2022, clearly defining Beijing as “an increasingly disruptive global power.”
The PRC has increasingly disregarded international rules and norms while having “an enormous impact on the Indo-Pacific” and nurturing “ambitions to become the leading power in the region,” the strategy said.
“Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy is informed by its clear-eyed understanding of this global China, and Canada’s approach is aligned with those of our partners in the region and around the world,” the paper said.
The strategy pledges to push back “against any form of foreign interference on Canadian soil” and strengthen Canada’s cybersecurity systems, while dedicating more resources to “enhance Canadian competencies on China.”
Investments will be made to deepen “our understanding of how China thinks, operates and plans, and how it exerts influence in the region and around the world.”
The document said Ottawa was reviewing all federal mechanisms and structures, such as memorandums of understanding, “to ensure they advance Canada’s national interests.”
The Indo-Pacific is Canada’s second-largest regional export market after the U.S., with annual two-way trade valued at U.S. $168 billion.
Over the next five years, Canada will invest nearly U.S. $1.7 billion to boost its economic and strategic role in the region, according to the strategy.
While protecting Canadian market access in the PRC, the Indo-Pacific Strategy acknowledged the importance of diversifying “within, and beyond, that market.”
The paper identified “key partners” in the Indo-Pacific, including India, Japan, South Korea and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
“India’s strategic importance and leadership — both across the region and globally — will only increase,” the strategy said, adding that Canada also will seek to bolster ties with New Delhi in security, the promotion of democracy, pluralism and human rights.
Initiatives to foster economic ties with the region include establishing the Canadian Trade Gateway in Southeast Asia and Canada’s first agriculture office in the region.
A major part of the strategy is to promote Canada’s security interests.
“The strategy will bolster our Canadian armed forces’ presence in the region and will enhance Canada’s defense and security relationships with partners and allies,” Canadian Defence Minister Anita Anand said.
Canada will invest more than U.S. $535.8 million in new security projects, with more than 50% going to “reinforce Canada’s Indo-Pacific naval presence and increase Canadian armed forces’ participation in regional military exercises.” (Pictured: The Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Vancouver transits the Pacific Ocean to participate in the Rim of the Pacific international maritime exercise in June 2022.)
A third naval frigate will be deployed to the region, and a multidepartment initiative will be created “to help develop cyber security capacity in select regional partners.”
The strategy also pledges to further promote Canada’s long-standing intelligence alliance with Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the U.S.
The Canadian government said it will continue to work with partners “to push back against any unilateral actions that threaten the status quo in the Taiwan Strait, as well as the East and South China Seas.”
IMAGE CREDIT: PETTY OFFICER 3RD CLASS MEGAN ALEXANDER/U.S. NAVY
