Mr. Chair, I think that we came away with a very clear view from Taipei and the officials we met with about their determination and their recognition, first and foremost, that they have to be prepared to go alone however things unfold. They're determined really to be able to defend themselves and they're putting the investments in asymmetric capabilities. Their defence budget just has gone from, I think, 1.8% of GDP to 2.5% and they're on a trajectory to continue to invest more. I think that's all with a view to making sure that they're sending the right messages not only to China, but also to their allies and friends that they're doing what they need to do within the means they have available to them to be able to defend themselves.
Clearly, the issue of what the PRC, the PLA and the PLAN are doing is demonstrating, probing and continuing to exhaust the Taiwanese defence forces through the Taiwanese defence forces being required to stay on the highest levels of alert at all time. They have a strategy that is really working to exhaust the Taiwanese defence forces. I think they are in a very difficult position from that perspective.
They're doing everything they can, and I think that they would welcome other friendly countries to continue to help them make sure that they can defend themselves. I think that's where we need to be thinking about how Canada might be able to help in the defence.