That's a broad question, but it's a relevant question.

In political science, we talk about the tectonic plates moving. I think we're at a moment such as this. The Indo-Pacific strategy was a step forward in terms of defining more clearly what Canada can do. It also was much awaited for years in the region. Canada had been involved, but in a very different time. Sometimes in the past, Canada was very present. In the 1980s, there were times that it would withdraw. Then the Indo-Pacific strategy tried to make a position that it would engage for a continuous time in the Indo-Pacific region.

Canada has to understand its role in this power shift. Canada was considered a middle power, but we have to accept that the bloom is off that rose. The region now has several rapidly emerging countries. Southeast Asian countries, China's immediate neighbours, have had to learn to navigate that emergence. I think we have a lot to learn from Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, which have an ongoing dialogue with China.

I also want to comment on the standards that my colleague, Mr. Vaillancourt, talked about. In places like Myanmar, there have been human rights violations, forced labour camps and ill-treatment of ethnic groups. There were sanctions, but channels of communication have remained open. The most important thing Canada can do is put its priorities out there, and that's what the Indo-Pacific strategy does. For example, sustainable development is an important issue. Right now, China is the world's leading electric vehicle manufacturer. It is also the world's leading solar panel producer. That means there are opportunities for co-operation.

It's also important to work with allies rather than confront China directly. This work happens within distinct cultural contexts. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, for example, operates on a consensus basis. However, many have tended to approach regional organizations in Asia the same way they did the European Union or the North American Free Trade Agreement, which operate according to other norms. Above all, we must be present. We must take part in those dialogues without broad condemnation and without causing the region's representatives to lose face.

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