Tougher tone on China? What to expect as Trudeau tours the Indo-Pacific region
Global News
The trip is taking place as Trudeau's government has signaled a much bigger, underlying goal: to bolster Canada's presence in the region.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau embarked on a 10-day trip in Asia on Friday — part of a major push to foster ties and develop stronger friendships in the region.
His first stop, alongside Trade Minister Mary Ng and Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly, will be the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Cambodia.
Trudeau will then head to Indonesia for the G20 summit in Bali, meet with leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation group in Bangkok, Thailand, and make one last stop in Tunisia before heading back home.
The tour comes amid a recent government push to build stronger ties in the Indo-Pacific region — and increasingly tough talk around the cabinet table when it comes to China.
“It’s this idea of moving away from China but also trying to diversify our relationship with the Indo-Pacific,” said Stephanie Carvin, a national security expert and associate professor at Carleton University.
“We’ve already seen our major allies develop Indo-Pacific strategies. We’re a little bit behind.”
Here’s what you need to know about what Trudeau’s government is trying to achieve in the next 10 days.
Upon his arrival in Cambodia, Trudeau will meet with the 10 countries that make up the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which are currently negotiating a trade agreement with Canada.