Canada's navy is running provocative
maneuvers in the south china sea. While
they claim to be upholding the
international rules-based order in these
missions. Their main partner refuses to
recognize the law of the sea.
At the end of last month HMCS algary
passed near the spratly islands claimed
by both China and the Philippines. In response chinese vessels shadowed
calgary through the South China Sea.
In recent years Canadian vessels have
repeatedly been involved in belligerent
freedom of navigation exercises through
international waters. Claimed by beijing
in the South China Sea, Taiwan Strait and
the East China Sea.
To counter China's growing influence in Asia, Washington has stuck its ore into
long-standing territorial and maritime
boundary disputes between China and the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam and other
nations.
As part of these efforts to rally
regional opposition to China the U.S Navy has engaged in regular freedom of
navigation operations, which see warships
travel through or near disputed waters.
Last year the Canadian press obtained
documents showing that freedom of
navigation efforts in the south china
sea was approved at the highest levels
of government. When HMCS Ottawa traveled through the
south china sea's taiwan strait, the
government said it demonstrated canadian
support for our closest partners and
allies, regional security and the
rules-based international order.
But Canadian freedom of navigation
missions is principally designed to
demonstrate support for the u.s, which is
one of only a handful of countries that
have refused to sign the United Nations Convention on the Law Of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Ottawa is under pressure to increase its
military contribution in a region with a
significant u.s presence. Le Mans diplomatique pointed out that
despite china's 14,000 kilometers of
coastline, it collides with the us
military which has bases sprinkled all
around the region, as soon as it goes out
to sea.
Recently the globe and mail published a
story titled Canada urged to play a
bigger role with allies to counter china
in the indo-pacific. The story called on Ottawa to join the
quadrilateral security dialogue which
includes the U.S, India, Japan and Australia.
Incredibly Canada may join an alliance
focused on an area some 7,000 kilometers
from Canada's coast. Earlier this year the Canadian air force
participated in an anti-submarine
warfare exercise in Guam known as sea
dragon with the quad nations for the
first time.
While increasing the canadian navy's
presence in the region is nothing new. In 2012 it came to light the military
sought a small base with a port facility
in singapore to keep an eye on China,
For two decades, the Canadian navy has
made regular port visits to asia and
since its 1971 inception. Canada has
participated in every rim of the pacific
exercise, which is a massive us-led
maritime warfare training action every
two years.
