Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has emphasized the importance of Canada strengthening its ties with Southeast Asian partners, signaling a strategic shift away from China and a concerted effort to diversify its global supply chains.
Mr. Trudeau spoke about this during a press conference in Singapore on Sept. 7, as he concluded a two-day visit to the region. He was asked about Canada’s efforts to strengthen ties with member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and whether it was motivated by escalating tensions with China.
In response, Mr. Trudeau highlighted Canada’s commitment to diversify its relationships and supply chains beyond major economic and trade partners like the United States and China.
“One of the things that Canada well knows is that it’s important to diversify our relationships and our supply chains,” he said. “We have a tremendous connection and dependence on the United States as our largest neighbor, but we also focus on diversifying around the world to make sure we have more resilient supply chains. That’s exactly what we’re doing here in Southeast Asia.”
Mr. Trudeau acknowledged that China is a significant part of the economy of the region and the global economy. However, he noted that there are “tremendous opportunities across Southeast Asia to grow” while deepening Canada’s ties to the region. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for supply chain resilience, which has motivated Canada to intensify its engagement with Southeast Asian nations.
In another interview, Mr. Trudeau stated that achieving a political rapprochement between Canada and China is currently unfeasible. He cited the Chinese communist regime’s various political decisions, such as the detention of Canadian citizens Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, which have strained its global relationships. Despite the release of the two Canadians in September 2021, the relationship with China has not improved. Mr. Trudeau attributed this ongoing tension to “real concerns around foreign interference,” referring to reports of alleged Beijing-driven political interference in Canada.
Mr. Trudeau’s statements came after his participation in the 43rd ASEAN summit in Jakarta, Indonesia, where Canada formally entered into a strategic partnership with the association, focusing on enhancing regional security. In a joint statement issued by member states of ASEAN, they reaffirmed their dedication to cooperate on a wide spectrum of security challenges prevalent in the Indo-Pacific region. This signifies a mutual commitment by Canada and ASEAN nations to deepen their collaboration on key security issues, including maritime security, cybersecurity, and combating transnational crime.
Following his visit to Singapore, the prime minister will be attending the G20 summit in New Delhi, India, as part of his tour of the region.