Canada and the Indo-Pacific strategic environment

This article introduces the 'Indo-Pacific' nomenclature as a strategic political construct that is altering the socio-economic and geopolitical landscape. Home to both India and China, the term is being adopted by governments who see the region as holding both unparalleled economic opportunities along with deeply concerning security challenges. Yet the ascent of the 'Indo-Pacific' term is controversial and not all actors have bought into its promise. While the moniker has been favoured by both India and the United States, it has also been met with suspicion most notably from China. Indeed, many analysts consider the paradigm fundamentally designed by the West to counterbalance China's increasing influence in the region. Despite the controversy, the Indo-Pacific is an important term that more accurately captures and articulates the importance of a vast region that is strategically important for Canada.