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On February 12th, 2019, the lecture entitled “Enhancing Canada-Japan Security Cooperation: Building a More Comprehensive Partnership” was held at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, University of Toronto. Sponsored by the Centre for the Study of Global Japan (CSGJ), the event featured Jonathan Berkshire Miller, a senior visiting fellow at the Japan Institute of International Affairs. This lecture was chaired by CSGJ’s Interim Director and Professor of Political Science, Professor Louis W. Pauly. Miller is an expert on security, defence, and intelligence issues in Northeast Asia, and his presentation focused on the ongoing partnerships between Canada and Japan on a bilateral and multilateral basis, as well as possible strategies to enhance further cooperation on issues such as security and defence relations. Furthermore, the lecture addressed the influence of other states on the Canada-Japan relationship, including South Korea and the growing influence of China in the region.
Miller began the lecture by discussing the reaction in Tokyo to the 2016 US presidential election, which saw the Republican candidate Donald Trump defeat Hilary Clinton. This result initially caused turmoil in the US-Japan relationship, which opened the opportunity for more discussion and collaboration between Canada and Japan. Miller then addressed the rationale for cooperation between Canada and Japan, stating that both countries share many values and highlighting the argument that Canada’s engagement in Asia need not always be through China. Furthermore, Miller spoke about the sense of uncertainty that was felt around the 2016 US presidential election, mentioning that countries could have pulled away from cooperation, especially after the US left the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). However, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) became an important economic and strategic agreement, which signalled the desire for continued cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. Miller argued that Japan’s role in this ambitious agreement on trade and partnership indicated its increasing leadership in the region.
Miller subsequently discussed how Canada should engage with Japan and East Asia, mentioning three strategies for engagement: multilateral, bilateral, and minilateral engagement. First, he discussed how engagement between Canada and Japan typically involves a multilateral architecture. However, he noted that focusing solely on a multilateral approach is short-sighted. Miller argued that a bilateral approach to engagement is increasingly important, especially on the matter of security. Moreover, Miller stated that there is also value in minilateral engagement, in order to move away from large-scale multilateral cooperation. He argued that approaches to engagement should be taken on all three fronts, and that such partnerships would signify a more principled approach to security in East Asia. Miller further noted that bilateral and minilateral approaches are lacking in the status quo.
Next, Miller looked at the issue of security, stating that the Canada-Japan relationship could continue to grow with increased military and intelligence-sharing, logistics, and joint exercises. Miller asserted that Canada should engage the Indo-Pacific region from a strategic standpoint. He also argued that security improvements should not be limited to defence and foreign affairs. Rather, there is room for collaboration in terms of security intelligence and developing avenues to improve intelligence-sharing.
The lecture subsequently opened to general discussion, and the question “What does Canada need from Japan?” was raised. It was mentioned that Japan knows China well, and Japan is in a favourable position to gather more intelligence on its neighbour. Whereas Canada currently relies on the “Five Eyes” network consisting of Canada, the US, the UK, Australia and New Zealand. Ultimately, Canada could benefit from diversifying its sources of intelligence and expanding different perspectives and partners. Another question was raised about what Japan needs from Canada. The discussion concluded that Canada’s increased involvement in the region is inherently very important. One example of this would be the Free and Open Indo-Pacific strategy, as Canada and Japan have similar outlooks on many political issues. Furthermore, it was stated that Canada is a part of many geopolitical “clubs” that Japan would also benefit from further engaging in. Finally, Japan’s relations with other states were also discussed, focusing on the recent deterioration of the relationship between Japan and South Korea.
Cameron Ting is an event reporter for the East Asia Section of the Synergy Journal of Contemporary Asian Studies.
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