I think the idea of taking a so-called granular, more targeted approach is excellent. Having a greater diplomatic presence is important, but it would also be helpful to have researchers in residence at Canada's consulates and embassies. We need to leverage the expertise of Canadian researchers who can be based at embassies or spend time there. The region is extremely complex, as has been pointed out.
I also think it would be worthwhile to focus on supporting Indo-Pacific researchers and think tanks, which possess considerable expertise, and to ensure reciprocity.
Speaking of reciprocity, last year we launched a fellowship for Canadian students, student researchers and post-doctoral researchers to conduct research in the region. There was supposed to be something called the connectivity envelope, which would have facilitated bilateral exchanges enabling student researchers from the region to come to Canada to specialize, but the project was scrapped for financial reasons, apparently. Initiatives like that are crucial, though. The relationship must be based on reciprocal exchanges.
Third, high-level delegations are important, but I would urge Global Affairs Canada, or GAC, to establish an Indo-Pacific research centre within GAC itself, just as it did with the China research centre. The goal would be to develop in-house expertise and plan missions with regular civil servants, not high-level officials, to cultivate rapport and foster better understanding, because senior civil servants are the ones who implement policies and put proposals into action.
Strengthening this rapport between decision-makers and foreign affairs representatives in the region would allow for a more targeted approach and greater expertise.