Thank you, Mr. Chair and members of the committee.
I am thankful for this chance to come here today.
The geopolitical context has changed drastically since the Indo-Pacific strategy was written, but fundamental realities remain, including challenges related to China, as evidenced by China's external aggression and internal oppression of minorities.
Japan, Canada's close partner, is very clear about the source of threats, as documented in its annual defence report. Canada's strategy prioritizes Japan. In March, our prime ministers announced a comprehensive strategic partnership. One result is Canada's participation with Japan, the Philippines and other partners in the BALIKATAN maritime exercise this spring. This is not unrelated to Taiwan, which is 111 kilometres from Japan's Yonaguni Island.
The IPS promised to “grow...ties with Taiwan while supporting its resilience.” Taiwan is crucial to our economic security as a supplier of advanced semiconductors, contributing to industries from AI in Vancouver to automobiles in Ontario. Canada and Taiwan signed a foreign investment arrangement in 2023, and a bilateral trade agreement awaits final signature.
Since 2022, China has conducted six large-scale military exercises around Taiwan, including missiles launched into Japan's EEZ. China's military now repeatedly crosses the median line between China and Taiwan. China has also escalated incursions into Japanese waters and airspace. China is conducting a global campaign accusing Japan of resurrecting neo-militarism and threatening regional security.
This year, China implemented new sanctions against Japan, including export controls on rare earth minerals. It sanctioned Keiji Furuya, the head of a parliamentary friendship association, for visiting Taiwan. Last month, China denounced Japan at the UN Security Council for a Taiwan Strait transit.
China dismisses international appeals for peace and threatens countries that provide even moral support to democratic Taiwan. China coerces Canada. Last month, envoy Wang Di warned that our strategic partnership would be damaged if Canada keeps sending warships through the Taiwan Strait and parliamentarians to Taiwan. China wants Canada to treat Taiwan as a red line that should never be crossed, but if we obey this new request, we would diverge from our own policy, which has taken note of China's claim since 1970 while neither endorsing it nor challenging it. Compliance would make Canada complicit in suppressing Taiwan.
The Taiwan Strait, which is 126 kilometres wide at its narrowest point, is an international waterway. Canadian warships have transited 11 times since 2018. To put that into perspective, Chinese warships regularly pass through the Tsugaru Strait, which is 20 kilometres at its narrowest point, between Hokkaido and Honshu.
Parliamentary visits from Canada to Taiwan began in 1974, and a friendship group was established in 1982. Because legislators represent their constituents, parliamentary visits are people-to-people ties that neither endorse nor challenge China's claims.
China is not a market economy, and its non-market policies and practices undermine the foundation of a global free trade system. China's strategy is to flood the world's markets with cheap products, enabled by heavy subsidies, and dominate strategic industrial sectors. We must protect our industries and jobs for Canadians if we are to prosper for the rest of the century.
Canada's Indo-Pacific presence requires pragmatic realism and clarity about which states uphold our freedom, prosperity and shared values versus those that threaten our collective security. We must choose between a free, open Pacific and great power coercion.
I have four suggestions to present today.
Number one is that Canada should publicly support Japan, pushing back against China's unfounded accusations while addressing sanctions by strengthening supply chains.
Number two is that Canada should continue and strengthen defence and security collaboration with Japan, informing our own population about its importance to Canada.
Number three is that Canada should strengthen its commitment to supporting Taiwan's resilience. We must continue both Taiwan Strait transits and interparliamentary diplomacy. We should not delay the completion of the bilateral trade co-operation framework agreement.
Finally, number four is that Canada should work with allies and friends to address the non-market policies and practices of China and avoid becoming an economic enabler for China, even as it pursues its own export interests.
Thank you for your attention.