Back on track (II): Revisiting Canadian foreign policy in the South China Sea

The South China Sea is one of Asia's most volatile faultlines of great power competition. Amid escalating rivalries between claimants and renewed militarization of disputed waters, Canada's approach to this conflict flashpoint – as a Pacific nation – is under increased scrutiny. Since the late 1980s, Ottawa has supported diplomatic initiatives and norm-setting efforts aimed at managing disputes between rival claimants. In more recent years, Canada has adopted a tougher stance against China's expansionist ambitions, including participation in risky naval operations through the Taiwan Strait. Today, debates about Canada's strategic posture centre on whether Ottawa should prioritize a pragmatic economic approach to China, maintain a provocative military presence, or both. This article argues for a third approach. Drawing on a historical analysis of Canada's diplomatic initiatives and its pivot to hard power deployments, it concludes that Canada was more influential through soft power diplomacy than assertive military posturing.