Canada-China Relations committee  Thank you.

Canada-China Relations committee  Thank you very much for the question. I think the expansion of the BRICS committee is meant to create alternatives to the U.S. currency being one of the global reserve currencies and to perhaps eventually internationalize it through amendment B. However, the reality is that when we look at the heterogeneity of BRICS and the expansion of its members, I really don't think it provides the kind of economic foundation that would be a viable alternative to the U.S. dollar as a global reserve currency in five or 10 years.

Canada-China Relations committee  I think Canada has an increasingly challenged relationship in not having a principled approach to many issues. This is not so much related to the United States as it is a track record over the past 15 years. You mentioned the conflict in Gaza. That is an example. What is our principled position on Gaza?

Canada-China Relations committee  Thank you very much, Ms. Yip, for your question. First, I think we have to recognize Taiwan for what it is. It's a political entity, according to our one China policy. We need to be very clear about that. They are at the forefront of disinformation from China. As a result, they have the experience and institutions to be the central nexus to help Canada deal with some of the disinformation challenges we face within our own relationship with China.

Canada-China Relations committee  I do. Honestly, I think a Canadian brand is very important. A Canadian brand is going to include focusing on comparative advantages. Currently, the Asia Pacific Foundation is doing quite an interesting job focusing on agriculture-related technologies and spearheading those initiatives in Southeast Asia.

Canada-China Relations committee  When we're talking about diversification of trade, we probably need to think about a sectoral approach to it. Western Canada has different comparative advantages, with energy and agriculture resources that are definitely needed throughout the region, and services and other products that can be delivered to Canada may be more suitable to Southeast Asia.

Canada-China Relations committee  In general, I think issues such as forced labour are moral issues, but I think the real risks to Canadian businesses revolve around supply chains, sea lines of communication and, if there is a potential kinetic conflict within the region, how this will disrupt critical technology, such as semiconductors, being exported to the manufacturing sectors in Canada.

Canada-China Relations committee  Thank you for the question. I would agree with Professor Lilly with regard to the Canadian Indo-Pacific strategy. I don't think it is an effort to diversify away from the United States. I think it is an effort to diversify away from an over-dependence on the Chinese market. We've seen investments in Southeast Asia.

Canada-China Relations committee  One, an abidance to the rule of law is critical as to which countries we choose to deepen our relationships with. Two, converge strategic interests. This creates more opportunities to work with countries that don't share the same political system—for example, Vietnam. This is a challenge.

Canada-China Relations committee  I don't think I said that. I said that we need to work with other countries to deal with the challenge of North Korea. The reality of North Korea's weapons of mass destruction and proliferation is a challenge to the region.

Canada-China Relations committee  No, not at all.

Canada-China Relations committee  Thank you very much for the question. When I speak of minilateralism, I'm thinking about partnerships with three or four countries to deal with one potential functional issue. I think exporting LNG to Japan would be a bilateral agreement. Here, when we're talking about bilateral agreements, the comparative advantages may be Japan's ability to build the technologies to export the LNG, and Canada would be the provider.

Canada-China Relations committee  Absolutely, and I think we've lost an opportunity with some of our environmental policies in Canada. We have not been able to export to the countries that rely on safe, transparent and stable energy resources, and that's something Canada can be. I think it could be an energy superpower, whether it's through this joint action plan with Japan or working with three or four other countries within the region to build steady supply chains of energy and critical minerals to the region to ensure their economies are stable and they can continue to provide the goods they do to Canada and Canadian citizens.

Canada-China Relations committee  It's critical. They don't have indigenous energy resources, so they import 90% to 95% of their energy. To work with a stable country like Canada, which has huge energy resources, would be a key asset. I would advocate deepening that relationship and then using our energy and critical resources to benefit Canadians and be the energy superpower that supplies the third-largest economy on the planet.

Canada-China Relations committee  I'll finish on one point. We need to advocate for new minilaterals, focusing on core areas that I think are of interest to Canada, like disinformation. An interesting combination could be working with Taiwan, Australia, Japan, South Korea and the U.S. to focus on disinformation identification and combatting it within the region.