In the News

Canada steps up at Rimpac to rebut Trump’s freeriding charge

South China Morning Post, June 22, 2026

Featuring: Vice-President Research & Strategy Vina Nadjibulla, APF Canada

Excerpt: Vina Nadjibulla, vice-president of research and strategy at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, said the Rimpac deployment “supports Canada’s interest in preserving open sea lanes and a stable, rules-based maritime order in the Indo-Pacific”, while showing it could “contribute specialized capabilities and exercise leadership within a large and complex multinational operation”.

Nadjibulla noted that Rimpac also offered an opportunity to deepen interoperability with partners such as Japan, South Korea, Australia and the Philippines – the very allies Canada would need to work alongside in any regional contingency.

But she cautioned that sustaining the operational tempo and connecting deployments to deeper defence partnerships and industrial cooperation would matter far more than any single show of force.

“Regional partners will ultimately judge Canada by the consistency of its presence over many years, not by any single exercise.”

Philippines works to build closer defence ties to Canada as it squares off with China

The Canadian Press (via The Toronto Star), June 22, 2026

Featuring: Vice-President Research & Strategy Vina Nadjibulla, APF Canada

Excerpt: Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada Vice-President Vina Nadjibulla said the Philippines is where Canada has made the most progress on strengthening defence ties under the Indo-Pacific strategy the Liberals released in late 2022.

“Canada also has a lot of strength in cybersecurity, and as part of the Indo-Pacific strategy, there has been a concerted effort to build the capacity of the Philippines when it comes to cyber defence,” she said.

“The Philippines is positioning itself as the front line state when it comes to maritime security and the defence of maritime rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific.”

How important is it for Canada to develop additional trade deals with Asia?

CTV News, June 21, 2026

Featuring: Jeff Nankivell, President & CEO, APF Canada

Excerpt: Nankivell says the latest Team Canada trade mission to Japan shows that Ottawa's "priority is to really push in the areas where we see the greatest growth potential, and this Canada-Japan relationship has developed nicely."

He adds that it is critical for Canada to strengthen economic ties with Asia. "When we talk about trade, we should not only talk about trade in terms of goods, but also trade in services. Canada has growth potential in markets like Japan, in areas like financial services, clean technologies, and other forms of digital services. At the same time, Japan is the third largest foreign investor in Canada, and it's really critical that [Ottawa] attracts more foreign investment from partners that are outside of the U.S., which also tends to bring with it larger trade flows and other benefits."

Record-setting number of Canadian executives head to Tokyo as CUSMA review looms

CTV News, June 21, 2026

Featuring: Vice-President Research & Strategy Vina Nadjibulla, APF Canada

Excerpt: Japan is a trusted partner. It is a G-7 member. It is a fellow democracy with whom we have an important strategic relationship. We cannot jeopardize that relationship because we’re trying to pursue diversification with China,” warns Vina Nadjibulla, vice-president of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada.

“So basically, this fall there need to be discussions about extending the canola and other tariff relief that Canada got. And the question is, will China ask for more concessions?” Nadjibulla said, adding that she expects Industry Minister Melanie Joly to face tough questions in Japan about whether those quotas will be increased, and under what terms she will allow Chinese car companies to build vehicles in Canada.

India looking to Canada to balance ‘inequality’ of markets in trade talks: envoy

The Hill Times, June 10, 2026

Featuring: Vice-President Research & Strategy Vina Nadjibulla, APF Canada

Excerpt: The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada’s Vina Nadjibulla noted that India is a “tough negotiator,” and that their officials are trying to “push and get the best deal they can for their country.”

She said the investment and mobility provisions that were in previous deals India has struck are aspects at which Canada would need to look. “But we have to make sure that we’re also very much protecting Canadian interests,” Nadjibulla said, noting the size of the Canadian economy is larger than those of New Zealand or the EFTA.

“When it comes to investment, we have a strong footing already given that Canadian institutions have invested close to $100-billion in India,” Nadjibulla said. “While it can be part of the agreement, it’s also something that is in line with what Canada is already trying to do.”

MPs plan official Taiwan visit as Beijing blasts 'hurtful' trips, bars New Zealanders

The Canadian Press (via BNN Bloomberg), June 9, 2026

Featuring: Vice-President Research & Strategy Vina Nadjibulla, APF Canada

Excerpt: Nadjibulla said it’s crucial for the exchanges with Taiwan to continue — particularly those involving multiple political parties — after the unclear message sent when the two MPs had ended their visit early.

“It’s important from a perspective of democratic solidarity. At a time when democracies are under assault, both internally and from external challenges, we do need to work closely together,” she said.

Taiwan and Canada can learn from each other as they grapple with disinformation, foreign interference and transnational repression, Nadjibulla said. Canada’s Indo-Pacific strategy also called for deepening economic and scientific collaboration with Taiwan, she noted.

“The other element is to do with making a point that Canadian foreign policy and Canadian policies on Taiwan and on China are being driven by Canadians here in Canada — rather than being dictated to by demands from either Beijing or any other superpower,” she said, noting China’s ban on the four New Zealand MPs.

McGuinty to lead defence trade mission pitching Japan on Canadian military tech

The Globe and Mail, June 8, 2026

Featuring: Vice-President Research & Strategy Vina Nadjibulla, APF Canada

Excerpt: Vina Nadjibulla, vice-president of research and strategy at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, said the timing of this trip is good because both countries are making “generational investments in our defence sector” as they seek to maintain peace and stability in both the Indo-Pacific and the Arctic.

Mr. Carney, saying that Canada could no longer rely on the United States for protection, used his first budget last November to deliver a defence-spending increase of more than $84-billion over five years – which is believed to be the biggest short-term cash infusion for the military since the Korean War.

Ms. Nadjibulla said increased focus by Canadian cabinet ministers on Japan is important as Ottawa seeks to build middle-power coalitions around the world.

Canada, Five Eyes warn China using online job sites in spy operation

CTV News, June 3, 2026

Featuring: Vice-President Research & Strategy Vina Nadjibulla, APF Canada

Excerpt: Vina Nadjibulla told CTV News that China’s spy operation “really is a sophisticated campaign.”

“It shows an evolution in tactics from the Chinese security institutions,” said Nadjibulla. “I think the alert that we saw issue today really should be taken seriously, and it is quite an unprecedented development.”

Nadjibulla says the timing of all this reinforces the point that engagement with China “cannot mean silence on national security”. She also stressed how important it is that the Five Eyes partners are issuing such a public statement.

“Transparency is part of building resilience,” Nadjibulla told CTV News. “The purpose of this alert is not to create panic or stigmatize communities. It is to inform people who may be targeted and give them practical tools to act and respond.”

Can Canada deepen economic ties with China without sacrificing security and human rights?

CTV News - Power Play (via BNN Bloomberg), May 29, 2026

Featuring: Vice-President Research & Strategy Vina Nadjibulla, APF Canada

Excerpt: Nadjibulla says the key question in the Canada-China relationship hinges on whether or not Canada can "deepen economic engagement [with China] where it serves our interest while at the same time protecting national security, economic security, as well as human rights and other issues that are important to Canadians."

"So far, we haven't heard much about the guardrails [Ottawa intends to set with China] publicly, we only know that the government thinks they're important and they should exist. I think the purpose of this visit from foreign minister Wang Yi is broadly to have those difficult discussions... [such as] which sectors will be open for Chinese investment, and which areas will not be? How will they define issues around foreign interference and transnational repression? What kind of mechanisms will be set in place to deal with those difficult issues and challenges?"

She adds that despite lots of talk on Canada's economic relationship with China, "a lot of questions still remain about the guardrails, what they will look like, and how the government will be managing them."

China raises prospect of trade boost if relations with Canada stay the course

The Globe and Mail – May 29, 2026

Featuring: Vice-President Research & Strategy Vina Nadjibulla, APF Canada

Excerpt: During his high-stakes visit to Ottawa, Beijing’s top diplomat on Friday dangled the prospect of Canada doubling its exports to China by 2030, if relations stay positive.

“The ups and downs in China-Canada relations over these years have brought us many important lessons,“ he said in remarks translated by the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada.

“We need to uphold mutual respect, seek common ground while reserving differences, maintain strategic independence, and pursue mutual benefit and win-win outcomes,” Mr. Wang said. “I believe that no matter how the international situation changes, we should adhere to these beneficial experiences.”

Vina Nadjibulla, vice-president of research and strategy at the Asia Pacific Foundation, cautioned about the risk that China will weaponize closer trade relations that make Canada more dependent on Chinese companies. More exports, particularly when concentrated in a single product or sector, can give Beijing leverage, she said. It could use the threat of future export boycotts to force Canada to align with its policies, whether on Taiwan, the South China Sea, the United States or other matters.

Taiwan News Image — Courtesy Taiwan News via Zuma Press Wire, Laurent Coust, via Reuters Connect photo

Canadian frigate transits Taiwan Strait despite Chinese warnings

Taiwan News – May 29, 2026

Featuring: Vice-President Research & Strategy Vina Nadjibulla, APF Canada

Excerpt: Ahead of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to Canada, a Canadian naval frigate transited the Taiwan Strait last week despite earlier warnings from Beijing’s ambassador to Canada against such actions.

Vice-President of Research and Strategy at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada Vina Nadjibulla told The Globe and Mail that Canada’s actions in the South China Sea and East China Sea are being closely watched by Beijing, Tokyo, Taipei, Australia, and the U.S. She said the latest transit signals Canada’s intention to maintain an independent Indo-Pacific strategy.

“It shows that Canada is committed to upholding international law and ensuring that international waterways, such as the Taiwan Strait, remain open to all countries, including Canada,” Nadjibulla said.

Nadjibulla added that Canada must simultaneously pursue multiple policy goals, including deepening limited economic co-operation with China, one of the key objectives of Wang Yi’s visit, while also maintaining a firm position on broader national security issues.

Canadian manufacturer pivots to 'huge' market in India as the 2 countries try to strike trade deal

CBC News (Windsor) – May 29, 2026

Featuring: Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: Vina Nadjibulla of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada said this is a pivotal moment for the two countries.

“India is an important part of Canada's diversification agenda," Nadjibulla said. "We're trying to reduce our overreliance on the U.S., and India is one of the fastest-growing major economies. It has a growing middle class. Its economy is really complementary to Canada's.

“It has a need for energy, for food, technology, for investment — all the things that Canada is able to provide. So there is an interest on the part of Canada to do more when it comes to commercial and economic relations with India.”

For India, too, Nadjibulla said, Canada is also an important trade partner. She said the two countries are in a “full reset” mode and the momentum for a free trade agreement is in full swing, with two rounds of negotiations already completed.

While it’s an ambitious timeline, Nadjibulla said it’s needed to bring more predictability to the markets.

Foreign minister visit signifies China’s interest in ‘deepening partnership’ with Canada

CTV News – May 29, 2026

Featuring: Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: “[The visit] shows that China is also interested in deepening a partnership because of what they can get from Canada but also because of the kind of messaging that China wants to send to the U.S., with whom China is, of course, in a strategic competition for influence.

“There's also going to be discussions around investment. Canada wants to have more investment for our own economic growth and resilience. But on the other hand, of course, there are sectors in which we don't want to have Chinese investment because of national security concerns, because of economic security concerns. So, there would need to be some clarity about what are those guardrails? What kind of investment from China is welcome in what sectors? And where we would actually continue to hold the red line?

“Of course, there will also be sensitive discussions on issues of foreign interference,
transnational repression, national security, rule of law concerns. A lot of that has been behind closed doors. I think it will be important for Canadians to be reassured that Canada is standing firm on those while we are trying to negotiate some economic trade and commercial benefits from this relationship.”

China 'sending a message' to the U.S. by deepening ties with Canada: expert | Power & Politics

CBC News – Power & Politics, May 28, 2026

Featuring: Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President, Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: Nadjibulla told CBC News that this visit by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi "shows that China cares about this relationship [with Canada] as well, that they want to advance the new partnership and they want to discuss issues that matter to them as well."

She adds that amid Canada's uncertain relationship with the U.S., the visit is "good propaganda and good messaging for China to show that it’s able to create more...division between Washington and Ottawa."

"While Canada is moving forward with China, we're not naive or blind to the fact that there are structural issues and there are limits to what we can do while we are also trying to preserve preferential access to the U.S."

China's Foreign Minister Visits Canada for First Time in a Decade

CPAC, May 28, 2026

Featuring: Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President, Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: Nadjibulla says that "Wang Yi's visit is really about implementation, about really getting down to business and figuring out what specifically Canada and China can do together. What are the sectors in which we will be doing more together, and what are those guardrails that we often hear about from Prime Minister Carney... about being clear-eyed?"

She adds that while the usual suspects in bilateral negotiations will be on the table for discussion, like trade and investment, there is also a "trilateral element" to this meeting. Nadjibulla says that the messaging from Yi's meeting will also be heard and assessed in the U.S.

Canadian warship transits Taiwan Strait despite China’s warning

The Globe and Mail, May 28, 2026

Featuring: Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President, Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: Nadjibulla said Canada’s behaviour in the South China Sea and East China “was being watched closely,” in Asian capitals from Beijing to Tokyo to Taipei as well as Australia and in the United States.

She said it’s a strong signal that Canada will plot its own course in the Indo-Pacific.

It’s the first time Canada has used the route since Mr. Carney’s visit to China in January and the announcement of the new strategic partnership with Beijing.

“It shows that Canada is committed to upholding international law and ensuring that international waterways, such as Taiwan Strait, are free for passage for all, including Canada,” Ms. Nadjibulla said.

“We have to advance multiple objectives at the same time: deepening some economic engagement with China, which is going to be the purpose of the Wang Yi visit, while also standing firm on our overall national-security agenda.”

Chinese foreign minister's visit to Canada a 'positive sign': trade minister

The Canadian Press (via Yahoo Finance), May 27, 2026

Featuring: Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President, Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: Vina Nadjibulla, vice-president of research and strategy at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, told The Canadian Press the planned visit is "significant."

"We'll see what the discussions are like, especially when it comes to investment, to sensitive areas like EVs, batteries," she said.

Nadjibulla also said the fate of Taiwan could come up during the visit.

Is Asia being overlooked amid Carney’s European focus?

The Hill Times, May 27, 2026

Featuring: Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President, Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: Nadjibulla called Carney’s comment on Europe’s place in a new world order “a little bit perplexing.”

“It’s difficult to imagine that the next global order will be built out of Europe given the significance of the Indo-Pacific,” she said. “There’s a recognition that Canada is much more interested, and much more visible, and much more relevant in the region...That is largely credited to Prime Minister Carney’s own vision of a pragmatic foreign policy.”

She said that Canada getting closer to Europe while doing more in the Indo-Pacific is a complementary process, highlighting Carney’s desire to see bridges built between Canada’s trade deal with the EU and the CPTPP.

Nadjibulla said Canada is still implementing Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy while it’s being reviewed and updated. “Bottom line, the strategy needs to be updated. It needs to be launched as a second phase with additional resources. And new language around China [and] around India, as well as a greater focus on energy … as well as AI and technology and innovation and services,” she said.

India, Canada negotiating a 'game changer' free trade deal: 'We're working fast'

Hindustan Times, May 26, 2026

Featuring: Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President, Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: Remarking on Carney meeting a visiting Cabinet Minister, Vina Nadjibulla, vice-president research and strategy for the Asia-Pacific Foundation of Canada, said, “This is a testament to his interest in deepening the relationship and also to the strategic nature of the relationship.” She said it was significant because it signals the desire to build a “genuine partnership” beyond the trade and commercial aspect of ties.

She added the “overall messaging” also underscored the fact that the Indian side “recognizes Prime Minister Carney’s leadership in the relationship.”

India's trade minister says visit by Canada's Carney reset ties after 2023 killing of Sikh activist

Associated Press (via ABC News), May 26, 2026

Featuring: Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President, Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President, Research & Strategy at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, said both countries are looking to diversify their relationships and reduce their dependence on the United States, increasingly seen as unreliable by some partners.

India recently signed trade deals with the European Union, the United Kingdom and New Zealand.

“India is now pivoting to Europe as well as to other Western economies like Australia and Canada to be able to meet its needs for capital, technology and innovation,” said Nadjibulla.

In the News

APF Canada's media responses to the latest issues and events in Asia presented in chronological order