Asia

Mass Wedding Banquet to Celebrate Same-Sex Marriage in Taiwan
- May 30, 2019
After new legislation permitting same-sex marriage came into effect in Taiwan on 24 May 2019, LGBT couples and their families began celebrating their new freedom. Journalists and foreign diplomats (including Canadian representative Jordan Reeves) crowded into Taipei City Hall to …
By Scott Simon
Asia, Gender, Human Rights
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WHO: Better Health for Everyone, Everywhere — Except Taiwan
- May 17, 2019
The World Health Assembly (WHA), the decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO), meets 20–28 May in Geneva. Although the WHO promises “better health for everyone, everywhere,” the organization systematically excludes one country from the annual discussions. Taiwan, officially …
By Scott Simon
Asia, Health
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Dawn of a New Era: Japanese Prime Minister Abe’s Visit to Ottawa
- May 13, 2019
A new era is dawning in Japan. With the abdication of Emperor Akihito on 30 April and the ascension of his Crown Prince Naruhito to the Chrysanthemum Throne on 1 May, calendars will change from the 31^st year of …
By Scott Simon
Asia, Canadian Foreign Policy, International Relations
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What Canada Can Do About the Rohingya Genocide
- May 1, 2019
By Payam Akhavan and John Packer

Twenty-five years ago, as young UN human rights officers working together in Geneva, we witnessed how the world watched and did nothing as close to a million Rwandan Tutsis were exterminated. Brimming with idealism …
By CIPS
Asia, Canadian Foreign Policy, Human Rights, International Law, Refugees, United Nations
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Taiwan Hopes for “Oceans of Democracy”
- April 5, 2019
Republic of China (Taiwan) President Tsai Ing-wen, who takes pride in her Austronesian heritage through her paternal grandmother, made an 8-day voyage called “Oceans of Democracy” at the end of March to three Micronesian allies and Hawaii. This …
By Scott Simon
Asia, International Relations
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Out of Fragility: Evidence from Bangladesh, Part 1
- April 5, 2019
Almost 50 years ago, Bangladesh emerged as a new nation in 1971 out of a bloody war of independence with Pakistan that left three million dead and ten million refugees. It then found itself caught in a fragility trap with …
By Nipa Banerjee
Asia, Fragile States, International Development
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Out of Fragility: Evidence from Bangladesh, Part 2
- April 5, 2019
The Bangladesh government’s significant strides in delivering basic services to the population, thus reinforcing its legitimacy, discussed in part 1 of this blog, have been enhanced by an extraordinarily strong civil society — a unique community of non-profit, non-governmental …
By Nipa Banerjee
Asia, Fragile States, International Development
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Partnering with Japan for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific
- March 29, 2019
On March 7, 2019, Japanese Ambassador Kimihiro Ishikane gave a lecture at CIPS entitled “Japan and Canada: Strategic Partners in the Indo-Pacific?” The question mark is perhaps the most important part of the title. At this 90^th…
By Scott Simon
Asia, Canadian Foreign Policy, International Relations
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Competitive Financing: An Alternative Solution for Doing Business in China
- December 12, 2018
By John Gruetzner

Canada is currently exploring the parameters permitted under USMCA Article 32.10 for realistic mechanisms to improve its commercial position in the Chinese market.

In the Joint Outcomes of the First Canada–China Economic and Strategic Dialogue, the Government …
By CIPS
Asia, Canadian Foreign Policy, China, International Trade
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Blue Wave Swamps Taiwan Elections
- November 28, 2018
Taiwan’s mid-term elections on 24 November brought a renewed “blue wave” to the island democracy. In this case, the blues are the Chinese Nationalist Party (Kuomintang, KMT) and allies who favour rapprochement with China. The greens are the …
By Scott Simon
Asia, Democracy, Gender, Human Rights, International Relations
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Learning from Taiwan’s Push to Diversify Trade Away From China
- November 28, 2018
Rather than cozying up to non-market economies, Canada should support Taiwan’s inclusion in the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Trade diversification seems increasingly important to Canada, especially after US President Donald Trump’s heavy-handed negotiations on the new US–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA). …
By Scott Simon
Asia, Canadian Foreign Policy, China, International Trade, USA
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Decisive Action is Overdue to Protect the Rohingyas
- September 15, 2018
By John Packer

Director of the Human Rights Research and Education Centre at the University of Ottawa and Neuberger-Jesin Professor of International Conflict Resolution

Finally, the United Nations Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar has stated the obvious: the Rohingya …
By CIPS
Asia, Canadian Foreign Policy, Human Rights, International Law, Refugees, United Nations
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