Canada launches new Indo-Pacific strategy
(VOVWORLD) - Canada launched its long-awaited Indo-Pacific strategy on Sunday, vowing more resources to deal with China while working with the world's second-biggest economy on climate change and trade issues.
 Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visits members of the Canadian troops in the Adazi military base, Latvia, March 8, 2022. (REUTERS/Ints Kalnins/File Photo) |
The 26-page document outlined 1.9 billion USD spending, including to boost Canada's military presence and cyber security in the region and tighten foreign investment rules to protect intellectual property.
The blueprint is to deepen ties with a fast-growing region of 40 countries but the focus is on China, which is mentioned more than 50 times.
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.
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."
It said Ottawa is engaging in the region with partners such as the United States and the European Union.