Question Period Note: CAF Operations in the Info-Pacific

What is the Government doing to promote peace and security in the Indo-Pacific Region?

• Canada is committed to a meaningful and persistent military presence in the Indo-Pacific Region to promote peace and security.
• That is why Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy is making several investments in defence over the next five years.
• This includes $369.4 million to maintain and increase our naval presence in the region, building on our commitments through Operations NEON and PROJECTION.
• We are also investing $48.7 million to increase Canadian Armed Forces participation in joint exercises with regional partners and allies.
• Additionally, we are investing $68.2 million to launch a new Canadian-led military capacity building program, through which the Canadian Armed Forces will offer mentorship and expertise to partners in the Indo-Pacific Region.
• We are also launching new initiatives to support regional and military partners seeking to bolster their cyber security and cyber capabilities.
• Canada will continue working with its allies and partners to help ensure regional stability and support the rules-based international order.

If pressed on contributing to AUKUS:

• As a Pacific nation, Canada plays an active role to support peace, security, and Canadian interests in the region, in line with our Indo-Pacific Strategy.
• Canada remains actively engaged with Australia, the UK, and the US on emerging technology issues related to cyber security, space operations, and intelligence.
• Canada has a wide and deep expertise in advanced industry capabilities in quantum technologies, cyber, and space robotics.
• Canada will continue to work with NATO and Five Eyes partners, including AUKUS partners, in key research areas of artificial intelligence, quantum, electronic warfare, counter-hypersonics, and undersea capabilities.

If pressed on PLAAF buzzing RCAF aircraft:

• The safety of Canadian Armed Forces members is of the highest priority in all operations.
• Canada has been clear in its expectation that all intercepts should be conducted in a safe and professional manner and refrain from impeding lawful operations in international airspace.

If pressed on deploying an additional frigate:

• Canada will continue to meet its obligations and commitments to NATO.
• National Defence’s plan to increase and enhance Canada’s defence presence in the Indo-Pacific was developed with our other key regional priorities in mind, as well as reconstitution.
• The Canadian Armed Forces will bolster its maritime presence in the Indo-Pacific by sending three warships to the Indo-Pacific each year.
• In fact, in March 2023, HMCS Montreal and MV Asterix departed Halifax under Operation PROJECTION to conduct forward naval presence operations in the region, as well as conduct cooperative deployments and participate in international naval exercises with partner nations.
• As with any operation, the deployment of assets is taken with resource considerations in mind, along with the need to meet operational objectives.

Indo-Pacific Strategy

• Global Affairs Canada is the lead on the Indo-Pacific Strategy, which was announced on November 27, 2022.
• Through the Indo-Pacific Strategy, National Defence is investing in the following initiatives to support the defence and security in the region over the next five years, including:
  • $369.4 million dollars to enhance our naval presence in the region and increase the number of frigates deployed annually, from two to three;
  • $48.7 million dollars to increase the CAF’s participation in bilateral and multilateral exercises with regional allies and partners;
  • $68.2 million to launch a new Canadian-led military capacity-building program, offering mentorship and expertise to our partners by delivering training directly to partner forces in the region; and
  • $6.5M to establish four new full-time civilian positions across the region to support discussions with allies and partners.
• Defence will also play a key role in the cyber initiative of the Indo-Pacific Strategy (to the tune of $2.6M) by bolstering military-to-military cyber cooperation and providing capacity development to select partners in the region. This will be done in close coordination with allies and partners.

Operation PROJECTION

• Strong, Secure, Engaged commits Canada to be a reliable player in the Indo-Pacific region through consistent engagement and strong partnerships.
• Since 2017, the Royal Canadian Navy has achieved consistent presence in the Indo-Pacific under Op PROJECTION.
• Canadian warships regularly deploy to work with our allies and like-minded partners, including by conducting joint transits and exercises under Op PROJECTION, as well as contributing to the multinational effort of monitoring UN Security Council sanctions against North Korea under Op NEON.

RIMPAC

• From June 29 to August 4, 2022, HMCS Winnipeg and HMCS Vancouver, (each with embarked CH-148 Cyclone maritime helicopters), and two CP-140 Aurora long range patrol aircraft, participated in RIMPAC, the world’s largest naval exercise.

Operation NEON

• Launched in 2019, Op NEON is Canada’s contribution to a multinational effort to monitor UN Security Council sanctions imposed against North Korea. These sanctions, imposed between 2006 and 2017, aim to pressure North Korea to abandon its weapons of mass destruction programs and respond to North Korean nuclear weapon tests and ballistic missile launches.
• Under Op NEON, the CAF deploys warships, aircraft, and shore-based staff to conduct surveillance operations to identify suspected maritime sanctions evasion activities, in particular the ship-to-ship transfers of fuel and other commodities banned by the UNSC Resolutions. This contribution bolsters the integrity of the global sanctions regime against North Korea, enhances regional peace and stability, and supports the rules-based international order.
• Authorities for Op NEON were set to expire at the end of April 2023. In March 2023, the Government of Canada announced the renewal of Op NEON until April 30, 2026.

Interactions with the People’s Liberation Army Air Force Aircraft

• On several occasions, interactions have occurred between our CP-140 Aurora long-range patrol aircraft and aircraft of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force during UN-sanctioned missions.
  Recent Indo-Pacific Operational Highlights
• HMCS Vancouver transited the Taiwan Strait northbound with the US Destroyer, USS Higgins, on September 20, 2022.
• From August 4 to December 5, 2022, HMCS Winnipeg and HMCS Vancouver operated extensively throughout the Western pacific, including the South China Sea.

AUKUS

• Australia, the US, and UK unveiled a landmark security partnership (entitled AUKUS) in 2021 to advance their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific – especially in the face of an increasingly capable and assertive China – through two related lines of effort:
  1. providing Australia with nuclear powered submarines; and
  2. developing and fielding joint advanced military capabilities. Under this second pillar (Pillar II), the three nations are focused on eight advanced capabilities: undersea capabilities, quantum technologies, artificial intelligence and autonomy, advanced cyber capabilities, hypersonic and counter-hypersonic capabilities, electronic warfare, innovation, and information sharing.
• In 2022, the White House indicated that as trilateral lines of effort mature, AUKUS will seek to engage capable allies and close partners.
• Canada remains actively engaged with Australia, the United Kingdom, and the US on emerging technology issues through several individual forums and working groups on cyber security, space operations, and intelligence. Canada also works directly with the United States on modernizing NORAD, including through developing new advanced over-the-horizon radar technology.
• Canada has a wide and deep expertise in these fields, particularly through world-class academia (e.g. Universities of Toronto, Montreal, Waterloo), advanced industry capabilities in quantum technologies, cyber, and space robotics, and a growing domestic ecosystem for defence innovation.
• For example, Canada has already announced that it will host NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic in Halifax, Nova Scotia. This Accelerator will work with test centres across Canada to help build capacity in key research and innovation fields that are relevant to the NATO alliance and Canada’s security.
• Canada will continue to work with NATO and Five Eyes partners, including AUKUS partners, in key research areas of artificial intelligence, quantum, electronic warfare, counter-hypersonics, and undersea capabilities.
• Canada has signed or is a part of over 120 different bilateral and multilateral cooperation agreements related to information sharing and collaboration.
• Canada could add significant value to Pillar II given its dynamic and globally significant tech ecosystem, global engagements and partnerships on emerging tech issues, and unique military operational experience. However, it is unclear the extent to which AUKUS partners will welcome external partner participation, when that might occur, and under what parameters.

Examples of Collaboration with Five Eyes

• Hypersonics: In Valcartier, Quebec, researchers from Defence Research and Development Canada are working with their Five Eyes partners on developing advanced capabilities to detect and deter hypersonic missiles, working on new sensor arrays and technologies to track and monitor missile launches and their trajectories.
• Sub-surface: In Halifax, right in the middle of the Bedford Basin, our defence scientists are working with Five Eyes partners on sub-surface domain awareness in salt water environments, with cutting edge technology and massive Canadian value-added with our experience in Arctic environments.

• Global Affairs Canada is the lead on Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, which was released on November 27, 2022. The Strategy will address five interconnected priorities for Canada:
  • Promote peace, resilience and security – National Defence focus;
  • Expand trade, investment and supply chain resilience;
  • Invest in and connect people;
  • Build a sustainable and green future; and
  • Ensure Canada is an active and engaged partner to the Indo-Pacific.

CAF Operations in the Indo-Pacific

• HMCS Montreal and MV Asterix departed Halifax on March 26 under Operation PROJECTION to conduct forward naval presence operations in the region as well as conduct cooperative deployments and participate in international naval exercises with partner nations.
• HMCS Winnipeg and Vancouver deployed to the Indo-Pacific region on Operation PROJECTION from August 4 to December 5, 2022.
  • While on Op PROJECTION, HMCS Vancouver also contributed to Operation NEON.
• March 2023: The Government of Canada decided to renew Operation NEON, Canada’s contribution to the multinational surveillance initiative to monitor North Korea’s maritime sanctions evasion, until April 30, 2026.