Canada’s ‘absurd’ South China Sea play: challenging Beijing or undermining Asean?

Canada is wading into the contested waters of the South China Sea, joining forces with Australia to ramp up military and defence industry cooperation. The two countries, expressing alarm at China’s assertive claims in the vital waterway, are looking to counter Beijing’s growing influence in the region.

Speaking after talks with his Australian counterpart in Vancouver on August 8, Canadian Defence Minister Bill Blair accused China of trying to reshape the international system to advance its own interests, and said security in the Indo-Pacific was being challenged “in a number of significant and difficult ways”. Blair vowed that his nation would work more closely with Australia to maintain order in the region.

Greater involvement of outside powers in the South China Sea could serve as a counterweight against China’s assertiveness. But some observers caution that Canada’s interest may be “merely symbolic”, pointing to its lack of significant regional defence resources. Analysts say such moves could also prevent Southeast Asian nations from speaking with “one voice” – making it easier for Beijing to deal with a divided response.

Canada is also concerned about the potential impact on its semiconductor supply chains, which are deeply linked to Taiwan – where about 90 per cent of the world’s most advanced chips are manufactured.

Nagy said Canada was positioning itself as a champion of the “rules-based international order” in the face of China’s assertive posturing. In recent months, tensions in the South China Sea have boiled over, with Philippine and Chinese vessels clashing directly as Chinese personnel have deployed water cannons, boarded Philippine ships armed with axes and machetes, and destroyed equipment to disrupt Manila’s resupply missions to a contested shoal.