Canada calls for Middle East de-escalation, warns over South China Sea confrontation

Canada has called for de-escalation and a permanent ceasefire in the Middle East, while voicing concern over rising tensions in the South China Sea, Foreign Minister Anita Anand said on the sidelines of an ASEAN meeting in Manila.

Anand said Ottawa remained committed to protecting civilian lives and critical infrastructure in conflict zones as fighting in the Middle East intensified, Caliber.Az reports via British media.

"The situation is quite grave, and we very much hope that parties will come to the table and ensure that the permanent ceasefire is negotiated and held," she said, adding that hospitals, schools and other civilian infrastructure must be protected.

She said Canada would "always call for de-escalation, a ceasefire, and respect for humanitarian considerations and human life."

Addressing the South China Sea, Anand expressed concern over the latest confrontation between Philippine and Chinese vessels, describing the incident as worrying.

"Without question, the incident is troubling, and we are concerned," she said. "We do not agree with intimidation as a means of addressing disputes."

Anand reaffirmed Canada's support for resolving maritime disputes under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and reiterated Ottawa's longstanding backing for a "free and open Indo-Pacific."

"Whether we're talking about the Indo-Pacific, the Strait of Hormuz, or waterways generally, there is a need to remember that the structure of freely navigable waters and international law is a guidepost that we can gravitate towards," she said.

Speaking about her meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday, Anand said the two discussed bilateral relations and regional security.

"In terms of the broader geopolitical situation, we did spend some time on the Indo-Pacific, and I raised my concerns," she said, without providing further details.

Beyond security issues, Anand said Canada is seeking to diversify trade beyond the United States and is pushing to conclude a free trade agreement with ASEAN.

"Making sure that there's unanimity towards concluding the FTA between ASEAN and Canada, that's our top priority here at this summit," she said.

By Aghakazim Guliyev