Canada is seeking to deepen ties with 40 countries in the Indo-Pacific region that account for almost C$50 trillion in economic activity.
Reuters
Ottawa,
UPDATED: Nov 28, 2022
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visits members of the Canadian troops, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in the Adazi military base, Latvia. (Photo: Reuters)
By Reuters: Canada launched its long-awaited Indo-Pacific strategy on Sunday, outlining C$2.3 billion in spending to boost military and cyber security in the region and vowed to deal with a "disruptive" China while working with it on climate change and trade issues.
The plan detailed in a 26-page document said Canada will tighten foreign investment rules to protect intellectual property and prevent Chinese state-owned enterprises from snapping up critical mineral supplies.
Canada is seeking to deepen ties with a fast-growing Indo-Pacific region of 40 countries accounting for almost C$50 trillion in economic activity. But the focus is on China, which is mentioned more than 50 times, at a moment when bilateral ties are frosty.
Four cabinet ministers at a news conference in Vancouver took turns detailing the new plan, saying the strategy was crucial for Canada's national security and climate as well as its economic goals.
"We will engage in diplomacy because we think diplomacy is a strength, at the same time we'll be firm and that's why we have now a very transparent plan to engage with China," Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal government wants to diversify trade and economic ties that are overwhelmingly reliant on the United States. Official data for September show bilateral trade with China accounted for under 7% of the total, compared to 68% for the United States.
Canada's outreach to Asian allies also comes as Washington has shown signs of becoming increasingly leery of free trade in recent years.
The document underscored Canada's dilemma in forging ties with China, which offers significant opportunities for Canadian exporters, even as Beijing looks to shape the international order into a more "permissive environment for interests and values that increasingly depart from ours," it added.
CHALLENGE CHINA
Yet, the document said cooperation with the world's second-biggest economy was necessary to address some of the "world's existential pressures," including climate change, global health and nuclear proliferation.
"China is an increasingly disruptive global power," said the strategy. "Our approach ... is shaped by a realistic and clear-eyed assessment of today's China. In areas of profound disagreement, we will challenge China."
Tensions with China soared in late 2018 after Canadian police detained a Huawei Technologies executive and Beijing subsequently arrested two Canadians on spying charges. All three were released last year, but relations remain sour.
Canada earlier this month ordered three Chinese companies to divest their investments in Canadian critical minerals, citing national security.
The document, in a section mentioning China, said Ottawa would review and update legislation enabling it to act "decisively when investments from state-owned enterprises and other foreign entities threaten our national security, including our critical minerals supply chains."
"Because the region is both large and diverse, one size definitely does not fit all," Canadian Chamber of Commerce President Perrin Beatty said in a statement, adding that Canada’s priorities will need to be very nuanced both between and within countries.
The document said Canada would boost its naval presence in the region and "increase our military engagement and intelligence capacity as a means of mitigating coercive behavior and threats to regional security."
That would include annual deployment of three frigates to the region, from two currently, as well as participation of Canadian aviators and soldiers in regional military exercises, Defense Minister Anita Anand said at a separate news conference.
Canada belongs to the Group of Seven major industrialized nations, which wants significant measures in response to North Korean missile launches.
The document said Ottawa was engaging in the region with partners such as the United States and the European Union.
Canada needed to keep talking to nations it had fundamental disagreements with, it said, but did not name them.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visits members of the Canadian troops, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in the Adazi military base, Latvia. (Photo: Reuters)
By Reuters: Canada launched its long-awaited Indo-Pacific strategy on Sunday, outlining C$2.3 billion in spending to boost military and cyber security in the region and vowed to deal with a "disruptive" China while working with it on climate change and trade issues.
The plan detailed in a 26-page document said Canada will tighten foreign investment rules to protect intellectual property and prevent Chinese state-owned enterprises from snapping up critical mineral supplies.
Canada is seeking to deepen ties with a fast-growing Indo-Pacific region of 40 countries accounting for almost C$50 trillion in economic activity. But the focus is on China, which is mentioned more than 50 times, at a moment when bilateral ties are frosty.
Four cabinet ministers at a news conference in Vancouver took turns detailing the new plan, saying the strategy was crucial for Canada's national security and climate as well as its economic goals.
"We will engage in diplomacy because we think diplomacy is a strength, at the same time we'll be firm and that's why we have now a very transparent plan to engage with China," Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal government wants to diversify trade and economic ties that are overwhelmingly reliant on the United States. Official data for September show bilateral trade with China accounted for under 7% of the total, compared to 68% for the United States.
Canada's outreach to Asian allies also comes as Washington has shown signs of becoming increasingly leery of free trade in recent years.
The document underscored Canada's dilemma in forging ties with China, which offers significant opportunities for Canadian exporters, even as Beijing looks to shape the international order into a more "permissive environment for interests and values that increasingly depart from ours," it added.
CHALLENGE CHINA
Yet, the document said cooperation with the world's second-biggest economy was necessary to address some of the "world's existential pressures," including climate change, global health and nuclear proliferation.
"China is an increasingly disruptive global power," said the strategy. "Our approach ... is shaped by a realistic and clear-eyed assessment of today's China. In areas of profound disagreement, we will challenge China."
Tensions with China soared in late 2018 after Canadian police detained a Huawei Technologies executive and Beijing subsequently arrested two Canadians on spying charges. All three were released last year, but relations remain sour.
Canada earlier this month ordered three Chinese companies to divest their investments in Canadian critical minerals, citing national security.
The document, in a section mentioning China, said Ottawa would review and update legislation enabling it to act "decisively when investments from state-owned enterprises and other foreign entities threaten our national security, including our critical minerals supply chains."
"Because the region is both large and diverse, one size definitely does not fit all," Canadian Chamber of Commerce President Perrin Beatty said in a statement, adding that Canada’s priorities will need to be very nuanced both between and within countries.
The document said Canada would boost its naval presence in the region and "increase our military engagement and intelligence capacity as a means of mitigating coercive behavior and threats to regional security."
That would include annual deployment of three frigates to the region, from two currently, as well as participation of Canadian aviators and soldiers in regional military exercises, Defense Minister Anita Anand said at a separate news conference.
Canada belongs to the Group of Seven major industrialized nations, which wants significant measures in response to North Korean missile launches.
The document said Ottawa was engaging in the region with partners such as the United States and the European Union.
Canada needed to keep talking to nations it had fundamental disagreements with, it said, but did not name them.
“India’s strategic importance and leadership will only increase”: Canada’s Indo-Pacific strategy
ANI
28 November, 2022
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (File Photo)
Text Size: A- A+
Ottawa [Canada], November 28 (ANI): Canada has in its new Indo-Pacific strategy document highlighted plans to increase cooperation with India, including a commitment to work towards a new trade agreement, underscoring New Delhi’s growing importance in the strategic, economic and demographic spheres in the region.
The “Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy” document states that the Indo-Pacific region will play a critical role in shaping Canada’s future over the next half-century. At the same time the document describes China as “an increasingly disruptive global power” and rebukes the Asian’s country for its disregard of international rules and norms.
“India’s growing strategic, economic and demographic importance in the Indo-Pacific makes it a critical partner in Canada’s pursuit of its objectives under this strategy,” says the 26-page document released on Sunday.
The strategy document contains a separate section on India and growing economic ties, including through deeper trade and investment, as well as cooperate on building resilient supply chains.
It seeks to expand to market access with India by concluding an Early Progress Trade Agreement (EPTA) as a step towards a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between the two countries.
The strategy seeks to create a Canada-India desk within the Trade Commissioner Service to promote implementation of the EPTA for businesses and investors looking to enter the Indian market, or for those partnering with Indian businesses
Canada will it says invest in and connect people, including by bolstering Canada’s visa-processing capacity in New Delhi and Chandigarh.
The Canadian government will support academic, educational, cultural, youth and research exchanges.
Canada will seek to accelerate cooperation in the fight against climate change, in protecting the environment and in deploying green technologies.
It will also send enhanced Team Canada trade missions in priority sectors of mutual interest, such as renewable energy and clean technology.
The strategy states that Canada and India have a shared tradition of democracy and pluralism, a common commitment to a rules-based international system and multilateralism, mutual interest in expanding multifaceted ties between the two countries.
According to the document, the Indo-Pacific region will play a critical role in shaping Canada’s future over the next half-century.
Encompassing 40 economies, over four billion people and USD 47.19 trillion in economic activity, it is the world’s fastest growing-region and home to six of Canada’s top 13 trading partners.
“The Indo-Pacific region represents significant opportunities for growing the economy here at home, as well as opportunities for Canadian workers and businesses for decades to come,” the document read.
Meanwhile, the document describes China as “an increasingly disruptive global power,” that have complex and deeply intertwined relationships with its “key regional actors.”
“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 document reads.
It also rebukes China’s disregard of international rules and norms.
“China’s rise, enabled by the same international rules and norms that it now increasingly disregards, has had an enormous impact on the Indo-Pacific, and it has ambitions to become the leading power in the region,” the document adds. (ANI)
This report is auto-generated from ANI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
ANI
28 November, 2022
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (File Photo)Text Size: A- A+
Ottawa [Canada], November 28 (ANI): Canada has in its new Indo-Pacific strategy document highlighted plans to increase cooperation with India, including a commitment to work towards a new trade agreement, underscoring New Delhi’s growing importance in the strategic, economic and demographic spheres in the region.
The “Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy” document states that the Indo-Pacific region will play a critical role in shaping Canada’s future over the next half-century. At the same time the document describes China as “an increasingly disruptive global power” and rebukes the Asian’s country for its disregard of international rules and norms.
“India’s growing strategic, economic and demographic importance in the Indo-Pacific makes it a critical partner in Canada’s pursuit of its objectives under this strategy,” says the 26-page document released on Sunday.
The strategy document contains a separate section on India and growing economic ties, including through deeper trade and investment, as well as cooperate on building resilient supply chains.
It seeks to expand to market access with India by concluding an Early Progress Trade Agreement (EPTA) as a step towards a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between the two countries.
The strategy seeks to create a Canada-India desk within the Trade Commissioner Service to promote implementation of the EPTA for businesses and investors looking to enter the Indian market, or for those partnering with Indian businesses
Canada will it says invest in and connect people, including by bolstering Canada’s visa-processing capacity in New Delhi and Chandigarh.
The Canadian government will support academic, educational, cultural, youth and research exchanges.
Canada will seek to accelerate cooperation in the fight against climate change, in protecting the environment and in deploying green technologies.
It will also send enhanced Team Canada trade missions in priority sectors of mutual interest, such as renewable energy and clean technology.
The strategy states that Canada and India have a shared tradition of democracy and pluralism, a common commitment to a rules-based international system and multilateralism, mutual interest in expanding multifaceted ties between the two countries.
According to the document, the Indo-Pacific region will play a critical role in shaping Canada’s future over the next half-century.
Encompassing 40 economies, over four billion people and USD 47.19 trillion in economic activity, it is the world’s fastest growing-region and home to six of Canada’s top 13 trading partners.
“The Indo-Pacific region represents significant opportunities for growing the economy here at home, as well as opportunities for Canadian workers and businesses for decades to come,” the document read.
Meanwhile, the document describes China as “an increasingly disruptive global power,” that have complex and deeply intertwined relationships with its “key regional actors.”
“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 document reads.
It also rebukes China’s disregard of international rules and norms.
“China’s rise, enabled by the same international rules and norms that it now increasingly disregards, has had an enormous impact on the Indo-Pacific, and it has ambitions to become the leading power in the region,” the document adds. (ANI)
This report is auto-generated from ANI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
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