National Defence committee  I will take that question. Indeed the Indo-Pacific strategy foresees a number of initiatives to reinforce collaboration on academic matters, including through scholarships. The commitment under the Indo-Pacific strategy, with respect to investing in people and connecting people, is to strengthen our ability to recruit and retain high-potential students.

National Defence committee  Let me speak to that in general terms, because I don't have the specific data to address these issues in detail. What I will say is that we're a trading nation. Our market access, which we have under our various trade agreements, is world-leading, and Canadian businesses are benefiting from that.

National Defence committee  Again, I can't speak specifically to the CPTPP. I'm not a trade policy expert or a trade negotiator, but I can say that, under the Indo-Pacific strategy, there are a couple of things in which we've invested money. One is labour standards. There is a provision within the Indo-Pacific strategy to provide capacity building for countries within the Indo-Pacific region to meet the labour standards set out in international trade agreements.

National Defence committee  Again, I can't speak specifically to CPTPP or the potential for its expansion. I'm not sure if my colleague has any comments with respect to China specifically, but really we're not in a position to speak to the CPTPP specifically.

National Defence committee  I could add to that. It's not just National Defence that is involved in cybersecurity. There are other departments and other government agencies involved in this. In the Indo-Pacific strategy, there is indeed an initiative for cybersecurity and cyber-diplomacy. That initiative is well under way with partners.

National Defence committee  We're doing both. I think it's fair to say that the Indo-Pacific strategy anticipates engagement on both the multilateral and bilateral fronts. We're very active in both. I think you raise an important point to say there are varying and competing interests in the region. We are there to protect Canada's national interests.

National Defence committee  I'll take that question as well. In the context of the Indo-Pacific strategy, what I would say is that this strategy, as I said, is over five years and renewable for another five years. It is a 10-year strategy. We are focused in the IPS on our long-term relationships in the region.

National Defence committee  Sure. First of all, let me say that we have condemned the missile launches consistently. Again, I agree with my colleagues that sanctions are an extremely important part of the deterrents to ensure that we don't arrive at a situation of conflict in the region, and that we would appeal for calm, stability and security.

National Defence committee  Indeed, the Indo-Pacific strategy recognizes the importance of the region in an increasingly complex world. It is fair to say that the geopolitical situation around the world has become increasingly complex since the strategy was launched just over a year ago. What that tells us is that we were timely in launching a strategy and the framework of the strategy remains sound.

National Defence committee  Indeed. Again I think it speaks to why the strategy is increasingly important. In fact, trade and the economic pillar of the strategy were very active in the first year of implementation. If you look at some of the activities we conducted over the last year, we have our team Canada trade missions that started in the first year of the strategy, with the first full-scale mission taking place in October.

National Defence committee  We don't have an opening statement, but perhaps we'll introduce ourselves, if you're all right with that.

National Defence committee  My name is Amanda Strohan. I'm the director general for Indo-Pacific strategic planning, policy and operations. I'm joined by my colleague.

Foreign Affairs committee  Excellent. Again, thank you for this question. I am going to have to limit myself somewhat in answering this question because I am not the expert on the bilateral relations within that region of the Indo-Pacific, but I will say that we have money under the strategy to promote peace, resilience and security.

Foreign Affairs committee  The Indo-Pacific strategy is a strategy over five years, renewable for a further five years, for 10 years and beyond. The Indo-Pacific strategy is over the long term, and the objectives of the strategy over the long term remain unchanged. We recognize that in the course of that time, the context in the region will undoubtedly ebb and flow.

Foreign Affairs committee  Thanks for the opportunity to respond to this question. Global Affairs Canada will be receiving, under supplementary estimates (B), $63 million for this fiscal year for the implementation of the Indo-Pacific strategy. I'm afraid I don't have that broken down by strategic objective, but I can provide you a little bit of detail in terms of the different subinitiatives that that funding will be allocated to.