Foreign Affairs committee  It's worth remembering that the RCEP was a Japanese idea, not a Chinese one. It's not necessarily a tool of Chinese hegemony. There's nothing necessarily inconsistent with RCEP and CPTPP or any other multilateral agreement, so it could be a good thing. On the CPTPP by the way,

Foreign Affairs committee  As I said, Canada was a founding member of CSCAP. It's a track 2 dialogue, but with a lot of track 1.2 participants. In some cases, it's scholars who are member-country delegates. In others, it's the retired diplomats who are member-country delegates. CSCAP provides an opportuni

Foreign Affairs committee  Very much so.

Foreign Affairs committee  Yes, that's right.

Foreign Affairs committee  We were very lucky here in Canada to get a gift from the Government of Japan, $5 million U.S., to endow a professorship and a new Centre for the Study of Global Japan at the University of Toronto. I'm no longer at the University of Toronto. I was for 20 years. I'm now at the Un

Foreign Affairs committee  I would like to say that I agree with virtually everything my colleagues have said today, except about the South China Sea. I see the South China Sea very differently. Most people have not noticed that since the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling came down in favour of the Phi

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you, and thank you for the opportunity to appear. I would like to address Canada's engagement in the Asia-Pacific region, specifically in security issues. Canada has a long history of engagement on security issues in this region, beginning with our participation in World