Anita Anand speaks at 2023 Shangri-La Dialogue

Secretary Wallace, Senior Undersecretary Galvez,

It is a pleasure to be back in Singapore for my second Shangri-La Dialogue.

Let me start by thanking Dr. John Chipman, James Crabtree and the IISS team for putting on this stellar event year after year.

Thank you.

Today, we’re here to talk about building a stable and balanced Asia-Pacific. And I’d like to tell you about what Canada brings to the table in advancing that goal. Canada is a Pacific country. Our Pacific coast is twenty-five thousand kilometres long. Six of our top thirteen trading partners are found in this region.

And one in five Canadians has family origins in the region, as I do. Today, Indo-Pacific is the fastest-growing economic region in the world. As a Pacific country, Canada has a keen interest in building a region that is stable and balanced.

What does this mean? It means an Indo-Pacific where international rules and norms prevail, and all actors engage responsibly. An Indo-Pacific where disputes are resolved peacefully. And ultimately, an Indo-Pacific that is free, open, and inclusive.

These objectives are at the heart of Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, which we announced last November. Our Strategy is a complete, long-term road map for strengthening all areas of our relationships in the region, whether they involve trade, development, or defence. Our Strategy seeks to open up new opportunities with North Pacific partners like South Korea and Japan. It recognizes and supports ASEAN centrality.

And it is forthright about our relationship with China: China is an increasingly disruptive global power, that increasingly disregards international rules and norms. Our approach is clear and responsible. We will always defend our national interests—and the rules-based international order. We must maintain open channels of communication to avoid misunderstanding—and have difficult conversations when necessary—because these are the moments where dialogue is needed most.

Canada always seeks coexistence and collaboration. Canada will challenge China when we ought to. And we will cooperate with China to find solutions to global issues. Our Indo-Pacific Strategy isn’t just a policy document. Because, building a stable and secure region requires tangible contributions.

Backed by an investment of over $720 million to promote peace, resilience, and security in the region, we are stepping up with concrete new commitments. First, under the Indo-Pacific Strategy, Canada is boosting its annual naval deployments in the Indo-Pacific, from two warships to three. We will now annually deploy an additional warship from our Atlantic Coast, growing Canada’s regional presence, particularly in the Indian Ocean.

Our bigger footprint begins this year. The Atlantic-based frigate—HMCS Montreal, and the replenishment unit, MV Asterix—are in the region right now, and visited Singapore just a few days ago. Two more frigates will deploy from our Pacific coast in the summer. Our ships will continue to operate throughout the Indo-Pacific.

As part of these deployments, our ships sail in the South and East China Seas, and through the Taiwan Strait, in full accordance with international law. This is a clear signal of Canada’s commitment to working with allied and partner navies towards regional peace, stability and prosperity. We will always act in accordance with international law, including high seas navigation rights as outlined in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Our Indo-Pacific Strategy also boosts Canada’s participation in multilateral exercises in the region, so that our Armed Forces can have a more frequent and fulsome presence here.

The Strategy also means that we will work together with, train, and learn from our partners in the region—such as Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam. And that includes initiatives to advance the Women, Peace, and Security agenda by supporting the meaningful participation of women in uniform.

This is an area where Canada has both much to share, and importantly, much to learn from our partners in the region. In this regard, I’m thrilled to be joined here in Singapore by Canada’s Ambassador for Women, Peace, and Security, Ms. Jacqui O’Neill, who just visited Vietnam and Indonesia on her way to Singapore.

Lastly, our Strategy introduces new initiatives to help our military partners strengthen their cybersecurity and their cyber capabilities so that they will be able to detect cyber threats and respond more quickly and effectively.

Since 2018, Canada’s main Indo-Pacific military mission has been known as Operation PROJECTION.

To reflect our enhanced and growing presence, I’m pleased to announce that starting this year, this operation will be replaced by Operation HORIZON.

Operation HORIZON will implement the defence elements of our Indo-Pacific Strategy: deploying more naval assets, participating in more multilateral exercises, and strengthening our military-to-military cooperation.

We know that our Allies and partners want to see more of Canada. I hear it wherever I go. And through Operation HORIZON, you will see more of us.

A stable and balanced Indo-Pacific also requires a safe and stable Korean Peninsula.

516 Canadians made the ultimate sacrifice during the Korean War—the third-deadliest conflict in Canada’s history. And as Prime Minister Trudeau underlined during his recent visit to Korea, Canada has never left the Korean Peninsula.

Our Canadian Armed Forces have continuously served in Korea through the United Nations Command, to promote peace on the Peninsula.

Today, I am also pleased to announce that the next Deputy Commander of the United Nations Command in the Republic of Korea will be a Canadian General or Flag Officer.

This will be the second time a Canadian has held this vitally important post, demonstrating our leadership in the Korean Peninsula.

In fact, the first non-American to ever assume that role was a Canadian as well. He’s with me here today, and he’s now our Chief of the Defence Staff, General Wayne Eyre.

Thank you, General Eyre, for your leadership.

To further support stability on the Peninsula, Canada recently announced the extension of Operation NEON, through which Canada regularly contributes ships, aircraft, and personnel to the multinational effort monitoring UN Security Council sanctions against North Korea.

One of those aircraft—a Royal Canadian Air Force CP-140 Aurora—recently completed a six-week deployment conducting surveillance to identify suspected violations of UNSC sanctions.

And when we deploy our aircraft to monitor United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea, we expect all actors in the region to engage responsibly, behave safely, and conduct themselves professionally.

Responsible engagement and safe behaviour are a cornerstone of a stable and balanced Indo-Pacific. And Canada believes strongly in being transparent, open, and adhering to the international rules and norms that underpin our collective security.

Finally, a stable and balanced Indo-Pacific depends on partnerships. And for our part, Canada is deeply committed to advancing our partnerships in the region.

Last year, the Minister of Defence, Dr. Ng En Hen, and I signed a Defence Cooperation Agreement between Singapore and Canada.

Today, I am thrilled to confirm that recently, the Republic of Korea and Canada signed a 10-year Memorandum of Understanding on defence research and development. We will continue to forge resilient relationships with our closest partners in the Indo-Pacific, and we will build new partnerships with important regional leaders—India, for example.

Canada believes in ASEAN centrality as the foundation for cooperation and stability in the region, which is why we are working to deepen our security cooperation with its members. We appreciate ASEAN’s support for Canadian Observer Status in the two ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting – Plus Experts’ Working Groups. We were delighted when ASEAN leaders recently adopted a Regional Plan of Action on Women, Peace, and Security.

And I am pleased to say that Canada is on track to finalize its Strategic Partner status with ASEAN by September, which will enable us to work even more closely with our partners in this vitally important region. Of course, we also remain tightly coordinated with our closest allies, including our Five Eyes partners. And we are always looking for ways to advance and strengthen our relationship. My friends, every issue that matters to global security in the coming decades—democracy, climate change, human rights, artificial intelligence, and more—all run through this region.

As a Pacific nation itself, Canada has much to offer the region, and the region has many opportunities for Canada. Through our Indo-Pacific Strategy, you will continue to see more and more of Canada. And through Operation HORIZON, you will see a larger Canadian defence presence here in the Indo-Pacific—so that together, we can advance the international rules that keep us all safe.

As the Indo-Pacific becomes increasingly central to global security, Canada must, and will, be a reliable and committed partner in the region. Canada is here as your partner, and we are ready to work with you to build a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific for all our peoples. Thank you very much.