Event Archive

Panellists:
 

• Dr. Kai Ostwald, Director of the Institute of Asian Research at the University of British Columbia; Senior Fellow, APF Canada 
• Dr. Karthik Nachiappan, Research Fellow at the Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore; Senior Fellow, APF Canada
• Derek Grossman, Senior Defence Analyst at RAND
   

Moderator:
 

• Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-president Research & Strategy, APF Canada 

As a champion of a ‘free and open Indo-Pacific,’ India is rapidly emergency as a vital partner to Southeast Asian nations. While historical and cultural ties buttress this relationship, strategic imperatives stemming from the need to counterbalance China, growing economic relations, and maritime cooperation bolster the present moment of closeness. Recently enhanced defense ties, such as arms deals with Indonesia, Philippines, and Vietnam; the ASEAN-India maritime exercises co-hosted by India and Singapore; and New Delhi’s pledge to support the Philippines amid escalating tensions in the South China Sea, highlight a proactive foreign policy approach in the face of China's assertiveness in the region. Of note is also New Delhi’s shift from ‘Look East’ to ‘Act East’ and its evolving maritime strategies which place a much greater emphasis on the ‘Indo-Pacific.’ 

Video encore presentation

As India seeks to enhance cooperation with Southeast Asian countries through various bilateral, minilateral, and multilateral platforms, this panel of experts, convened jointly by the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada and Simon Fraser University, will delve into the complexities of forging robust partnerships in the Indo-Pacific against the backdrop of expanding great power rivalries. The objective will be to unpack and explore the intersections of security, economic interests, and the pursuit of a rules-based international order.

The panel discussion will also offer a chance to explore how Canada and other Western powers can gain from investing in India as a bridge to the Indo-Pacific region. India's growing economic might, strategic influence in the Indian Ocean region, and historical and cultural ties with Southeast Asian nations place it in a unique position.  In addition, Western powers share interests and values with India in promoting peace and security across the Indo-Pacific and in strengthening opportunities for economic growth and prosperity. 

Join us for a townhall meeting and discussion with human rights delegates from Myanmar's government in exile, the National Unity Government (NUG). 

Presented in partnership with the University of B.C.'s School of Public Policy and Global Affairs (Institute of Asian Research), UBC Myanmar Initiative, and Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC). 

Speakers:

Aung Myo Min - Minister of Human Rights, NUG

Aung Kyaw Moe - Deputy Minister of Human Rights, NUG

Moderator:

Dr. Ardeth Thawnghmung - Professor, Political Science, University of B.C. 

Discussant:

Dr. Htet Thiha Zaw - UBC Myanmar Initiative Fellow 

In collaboration with the Centre for International Policy Studies, its Asian Studies Network, and the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada

Beginning April 19, India will hold its largest national election that will likely keep Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP in government for a third term. The last decade and two previous terms have witnessed dramatic transformations and this election promises to be as consequential for India’s economy, its role in the Indo-Pacific, and how it engages with countries like Canada. This talk will cover the 2019 campaign and what expected outcomes could portend for India’s immediate future.

Our Vice-president Research & Strategy, Vina Nadjibulla, will be moderating this session. 

The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in North America is hosting its 2024 CILTNA Annual Spring Outlook Conference Conférence de printemps de L’IALTAN 2024 "Adapting to a Changing World: Challenges in Transportation, Energy, Environment and Geopolitics."

Agenda:
 

Our Vice-president Research & Strategy, Vina Nadjibulla, will speak at the breakfast session. 

As the Indo-Pacific region witnesses dynamic shifts in geopolitics and economic landscapes, closer ties between Canada and the Philippines hold significant promise. This year, Canada and the Philippines celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations. 

From a memorandum of understanding on defence co-operation signed in January 2024 to the currently negotiated Canada-ASEAN free trade agreement, Canada and the Philippines have demonstrated a commitment to fostering closer ties and enhancing co-operation for the collective prosperity and stability of the Indo-Pacific. This panel aims to explore avenues for mutual benefit, address common challenges, and capitalize on emerging opportunities.

About Enrique A. Manalo, Philippines Secretary for Foreign Affairs 

Seasoned career diplomat Ambassador Enrique A. Manalo took his oath of office before President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on July 1, 2022, as the new Secretary for Foreign Affairs. During his more than four decades of service in the Department of Foreign Affairs, Secretary Manalo was appointed Undersecretary for Policy twice. As Undersecretary for Policy, he also served as the Philippines’ Senior Official in the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting, the working-level mechanism for ASEAN policy formulation and priority-setting. 

Secretary Manalo is an expert in multilateral diplomacy, having served as the Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York immediately prior to being appointed as Secretary for Foreign Affairs. 

Encore Video Presentation