Canada FM Anand Calls Middle East Ceasefire, Decries South China Sea
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- Anita Anand, Canada's foreign minister, called for de-escalation and a permanent ceasefire in the Middle East, describing the situation as "quite grave" and urging parties to "come to the table."
- Anand expressed concern over the latest maritime confrontation between Philippine and Chinese vessels in the South China Sea, calling the incident "troubling" and stating Canada "does not agree with intimidation as a means of addressing disputes."
- Canada backs resolving maritime disputes under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and reiterated its support for a "free and open Indo-Pacific," Anand said.
- Anand met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday in Manila, discussing bilateral ties and regional security; she said she raised her concerns about the Indo-Pacific without elaborating.
- Canada is pushing to diversify trade beyond the United States and seeking to conclude a free trade agreement with ASEAN, calling the FTA its "top priority" at the summit.
- Anand emphasized protecting civilian infrastructure—hospitals, schools, and critical facilities—in conflict zones as fighting intensified.
Why it matters: Canada is aligning itself with the Philippines and the broader ASEAN bloc against what it labels intimidation in the South China Sea, while also threading Middle East ceasefire demands into the same diplomatic tour—giving Ottawa a louder voice than its military weight would otherwise warrant on two simultaneous flashpoints.
