Canada in sync with U.S. on new Indo-pacific plan
`In lockstep' in viewing China as competitor
• The Liberal government's long-awaited Indo-pacific strategy, unveiled Sunday, is being seen as an alignment of Canada's China policy with that of the U.S., which will not be welcomed by Beijing.
“We're pretty much in lockstep with the Americans in viewing China as a competitor,” said Carleton University international affairs Prof. Fen Hampson. “I cannot see this landing with overwhelming enthusiasm in Beijing.”
U.S. ambassador to Canada David Cohen issued a statement welcoming the strategy Sunday. He said the U.S. looks forward “to continued engagement with Canada, one of the United States' most important friends and allies, to advance our countries' shared priorities in the Indo-pacific region.”
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly first outlined the general direction of the strategy earlier this month, promising Canada would challenge an “increasingly disruptive” China “when we ought to” and co-operate “when we must.”
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre brought up the strategy in question period Monday, noting China is currently seeing unprecedented protests and unrest prompted by its strict “ZERO-COVID” measures.
“There's a wave of protests across China right now. And there are now reports of government crackdowns against those protests. If the government is serious about what it put in its strategy, then will they indicate to Beijing that the peaceful protest should be allowed to go ahead and that any crackdown should be resisted?” he asked.
The parliamentary secretary to the foreign affairs minister, Maninder Sidhu, responded that the Liberal government is “very closely” following the events in China, and is in close contact with the embassy and consulate.
“We believe in freedom of expression at home and abroad, including in China, and that protesters should be able to peacefully protest and share their views without fearing for their safety.”
The NDP issued a statement calling the strategy “essential but long overdue.”
“China has demonstrated its willingness to weaponize trade, and Canadians at home and abroad have felt the impacts. China continues to have tremendous influence in the region, and New Democrats urge the government to follow through on their commitments and play a more substantial role in the Indo-pacific,” the statement from NDP foreign affairs critic Heather Mcpherson said.
The strategy says China is aiming to become the leading power in the Indo-pacific region as it increasingly disregards international rules and norms.
“China is looking to shape the international order into a more permissive environment for interests and values that increasingly depart from ours,” it says, citing China ignoring United Nations rulings on the South China Sea, and efforts to block UN reports on the allegations of genocide of Uyghurs in Xinjiang, China.
The document also cites China's “coercive diplomacy” and its lending of money to other countries, saying China's practices diverge from international norms and put developing countries at risk. The strategy said its approach to China would include strengthening “the defence of our Canadian infrastructure, democracy and Canadian citizens against foreign interference.”
It promised to push back “against any form of foreign interference on Canadian soil” and strengthen cybersecurity systems.
Hampson said the issue of foreign interference has become a “political hot potato domestically,” after reports that China interfered in the 2019 election led Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to bring up the topic with Chinese president Xi Jinping—who then publicly upbraided Trudeau at a G20 summit after the Prime Minister's Office released details to the media about the conversation between the two leaders.
Hampson said the issue points to the “rocky deteriorating nature of this relationship.”
The strategy also promised Canada would act “decisively when investments from stateowned enterprises and other foreign entities threaten our national security, including our critical minerals supply chains,” as well as to protect Canadian intellectual property and research.
The strategy said Canada would review its current approach when it comes to direct relations with China.
“Canada will continue to protect Canadian market access in China while working with clients to diversify within, and beyond, that market,” it said, adding Canada would speak up for human rights, including those of Uyghurs and in Hong Kong.