The federal government on Sunday unveiled Canada’s long-awaited Indo-Pacific strategy, which envisages investing nearly $2.3 billion in the region over the next five years. The central principle of the plan is “to act in Canada’s interests while defending our values,” announced Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly.

In other words: Canada distances itself from the Middle Kingdom. China is “an increasingly disruptive world power” that is “actively trying to reinterpret these rules in order to achieve greater benefits,” we read in the thirty-page strategic plan.

Although power is “inseparable” from the broader Indo-Pacific strategy, according to the Trudeau administration, on the face of it it reflects Canada’s desire to diversify its ties with other actors in the region, such as India, Indonesia, Japan and South Korea.

The roadmap is based on five key goals: Peace, Supply Chain Resilience, Human and Women’s Rights, Climate Change and Strengthening Canada’s Presence in the World. They were presented by Minister Joly, accompanied by Minister for International Trade Mary Ng, Minister for International Development Harjit S. Sajjan and Minister for Public Security Marco Mendicino.

A political change

“This desire to diversify our relations with this neglected region of the world to offset China’s aggressive power in recent years is a reorientation [la politique canadienne] “explains in an interview the former journalist Jean-François Lépine, who was the representative of Quebec in Beijing.

Canada first wants to increase its military presence, particularly its naval presence, in the Indo-Pacific region with an investment of $492.9 million. An additional $47.3 million is earmarked to launch a new initiative to strengthen the cybersecurity capabilities of certain regional partners.

This desire to diversify our relations with this neglected region of the world to compensate for China’s aggressive power in recent years is a reorientation of [la politique canadienne].

Although China has become a “disruptive power” around the world in recent years, Mr. Lépine adds, “we must learn to have relationships in which we are able to be critical [elle]while continuing to engage with the Chinese on issues of common concern”.

Canada will work in this direction with the world power “to find solutions to global problems such as climate change, biodiversity loss, global health and nuclear proliferation,” according to the strategic plan.

“It’s finally done”

Political scientist Dominique Caouette, who is affiliated with the Center for Asian Studies at the University of Montreal, casually applauds the “exhaustive and comprehensive reading” the government is conducting in this region, which includes 6 of Canada’s 13 major trading partners.

To increase trade and investment, Canada will invest US$240.6 million, which will specifically be used to create the Canadian Trade Gateway in Southeast Asia and Canada’s first agricultural office in the region.

Canada will also invest in strengthening ties between Canadians and the peoples of the Indo-Pacific, whose diasporas are very present in the country, Mr. Caouette said. US$74.6 million will be used to consolidate Canada’s visa processing capacity within Canada’s centralized network, as well as in New Delhi, Chandigarh, Islamabad and Manila. An additional amount of US$143.3 million will be made available to strengthen Canada’s diplomatic presence.

Adding $750 million to the list of numerous investments the federal government pledged on Sunday to bolster sustainable infrastructure development. According to Mr Caouette, this initiative stems from an intention to balance the weight of China with its famous New Silk Road initiative. — a huge Chinese Marshall Plan to intensify its ties with the countries of the Indo-Pacific region by helping them invest in their infrastructures.

For both Canada and its partners, we want to “offer alternatives to China to be less dependent,” adds Mr. Lépine.

Both Mr Lépine and Mr Caouette would like to remind you that the Indo-Pacific strategy is not surprising. “I always blame the Trudeau government for that: we follow. We follow the Americans who carried out this reflection process long before us and for the same reasons. »

The two experts at least agree: “It’s finally done”.

“Today will be remembered as Canada’s renewed commitment to the Indo-Pacific region,” concludes Mr. Caouette.

To see in the video