TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan is preparing to host a group of former defense and intelligence officials from Canada next week to discuss regional security and bilateral ties.
The group will be led by Richard Fadden, a former national security advisor to the prime minister and former director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, reported the Globe and Mail.
While former defense officials from partner nations have occasionally visited Taiwan as private citizens on behalf of their native government, the size and profile of the group accompanying Fadden are remarkable.
The group will include former commanders of the Canadian Royal Navy, Vice Admiral Mark Norman, and the Royal Canadian Air Force, Lieutenant-General Andre Deschamps. Former Associate Deputy of the Department of National Defense Gordon Venner, and the former Vice Chief of the Defense Staff Guy Thibault will also join.
A former intelligence officer of the Privy Council, Martin Green, as well as Canada’s former Ambassador to Japan, Ian Burney, will also join the trip to Taipei. Also joining is Ian Brodie, the chief of staff to former Prime Minister Steven Harper.
James Boutilier, a former special advisor for Canada’s Maritime Forces in the Pacific, and Edison Stewart, a former assistant deputy minister of the Department of National Defense are also coming, per the Globe and Mail. Jonathan Berkshire Miller, a director of a national security think tank, the MacDonald Laurier Institute, will also accompany the former officials.
A former Canadian Ambassador to China, Guy Saint-Jacques, was quoted by the report as saying the Trudeau government has likely approved the visit of such a “high-powered” group.
The former Canadian officials are expected to make stops at Taiwan’s National Security Council, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei. Members of the group have insisted that the group members are traveling as private citizens, and are not delivering any messages from the government in Ottawa to Taipei.
Canadian Representative to Taiwan Jim Nickel recently commented on the importance of the Taiwan-Canada partnership. He said Ottawa and Taipei are committed to upholding democratic values and ensuring peace and stability in the region.
