The Trudeau administration will next month unveil details of a new geopolitical strategy to deal with China, “a global power that is increasingly disrupting the international order.”

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The outlines of this new policy were first presented by Secretary of State Mélanie Joly during a speech to the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada.

“We will challenge China if we have to. We will cooperate with China if necessary,” the minister summed up.

Part of the new strategy will be to diversify Canadian investments in the region. Instead of focusing on the Chinese economy, Ottawa will promote economic ties with other countries in Asia and the Indo-Pacific.

A swing to India, “the world’s largest democracy,” is in Ottawa’s plans.

“As India becomes the most populous country in the world, its leadership and influence will continue to grow both regionally and globally,” Ms Joly said.

It highlighted the ties that already bind India and Canada, particularly due to the country’s ever-growing immigrant community of Indian origin.

“India is looking to expand its trade ties in energy, food and technology – all areas where Canada is strong.”

In addition, Canada seeks to “deepen our understanding of how China thinks, acts and plans; how it exerts its influence in the region and in the world”.

To this end, $50 million will be made available to increase the number of staff in Canadian embassies and offices across the continent and here in Ottawa.

Beyond the purely economic and political aspect, Canada also sees itself as a defender of freedom of the press and freedom of expression in Hong Kong, where Beijing is tightening its hand every day.

These values ​​need to be defended with greater vigour, as China “seeks to shape the global environment to be more tolerant of interests and values ​​that increasingly diverge from our own.”