The Government of Canada presented this Sunday its new strategic plan for the Indo-Pacific region which envisages an approximate investment of approximately $2 billion in maritime security, information technologies and cooperation with its regional allies, to fight against chinese influencewhich he describes as an “increasingly disruptive power on the world stage”.

“China’s emergence has been made possible by the same international rules and standards that it is now increasingly ignorant of,” the official document collected by the channel said. Radio Canadaand presented in part by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Melanie Joly.

This increase, argues the Canadian government, “has had a huge impact on the Indo-Pacific» and now Beijing « has the ambition to become the first power in the region » by « large-scale investments to consolidate its economic influence, its diplomatic impact and its offensive military capacities ».

“China seeks to shape international order in an environment that is more permissive for interests and values ​​that increasingly diverge from our own,” the document reads.

The 2,000 million euross will be accompanied by a bill to amend investment regulations to prevent state-owned enterprises and other foreign entities that threaten Canada’s national security from taking over critical Canadian industries and intellectual property .

In addition, all federal departments will be required to review their Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with China and other countries to ensure rights are protected. national interests of Canada.

Canada intends to deepen its ties with some forty countries in the zone, whose economic activity represents some 50 billion Canadian dollars ($37 trillion Americans). However, the focus is on China, which is mentioned more than 50 timesat a time when bilateral relations are frozen

Similarly, the new strategy ratifies the alliance with Taiwan with the opposition of the Canadian government to “any unilateral action which threatens the ‘status quo“in the strait”.

At a news conference in Vancouver, four cabinet ministers took turns detailing the new plan, saying the strategy was crucial to national security and climate of Canada, as well as for its economic objectives.

“We are going to engage in diplomacy because we believe diplomacy is strength, at the same time we are going to be firm and that is why we now have a very transparent plan to engage with China,” the minister said. Canadian Foreign Affairs, Melanie Joy.

The government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau seeks to diversify trade and economic ties that depend mainly on United States. Official September data shows that bilateral trade with China is less than 7% of the total, compared to the 68% from the United States.

This strategic document took years to draft and Canada’s regional allies, such as Japan and South Korea, had been waiting for its presentation for months as a gesture to strengthen their relationship.

On November 16, the Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeausaid to have discussed with the president Xi Jinping the issue of Chinese interference in Canadian affairs on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Bali.

Ottawa has in recent weeks accused the Chinese government of interfere with its democratic institutions and judicial system, after years of strained relations between the two countries.

“I raised the issue of interference with our citizens,” Trudeau told a news conference on the Indonesian resort island.

Trudeau met Xi on Tuesday, the first face-to-face dialogue between the two leaders since 2019.

He said he told the Chinese leader, who last month won a historic third term, “It’s important to be able to have a dialogue about this.”

The Canadian Federal Police said they are investigating alleged illegal police stations set up by China in the North American country.

Trudeau also asserted that China has been playing “aggressive games” after canadian broadcaster world news report on a “clandestine network” of Beijing-funded federal election candidates.

“It’s extremely important that we continue to stand up for the things that are important to Canadians,” Trudeau told reporters.

As well highlighted “areas of mutual interest and geopolitical challenges” in his conversation with Xiincluding the war in Ukraine and the tensions on the Korean peninsula.

“In Canada, we believe in free, open and frank dialogue, and that is what we will continue to have. We will continue to seek to work together constructively, but there will be things we will disagree on,” Trudeau said.

(With information from Europa Press and Reuters)

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