2026 Indo-Pacific Symposium: Shifting Fault Lines on March 12, 2026
Institute of Asian Research director Kai Ostwald welcomed and offered a simple but powerful observation: “We all know that Asia matters.”
And to what extent Asia matters, not just for Canada in bilateral terms, but multilaterally within an evolving global order was the central question explored at the 2026 IAR Indo-Pacific Symposium on March 12, 2026, hosted by the IAR, in partnership with the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APF Canada).
Held alongside the Association for Asian Studies (AAS) 2026 Conference in Vancouver, the symposium brought together world-leading scholars and practitioners for a focused afternoon examining the forces reshaping Asia’s political, economic, and technological landscapes. With more than 100 attendees, including students, academics, policymakers, and representatives from organizations such as Global Affairs Canada, the Privy Council Office, and International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the event showcased IAR’s role as a hub for dialogue between research and policy communities.
In opening remarks, Jeff Nankivell, President and CEO of APF Canada, described the current geopolitical moment as one of “rupture,” echoing themes raised in the Prime Minister’s Davos speech about the shifting global order. Yet he emphasized that this moment of disruption calls for more careful and nuanced engagement with the region. Rather than viewing Asia as a single geopolitical bloc, he noted, there is an increasing recognition of the agency and diversity of individual societies across the Asia-Pacific. In a period of global uncertainty, understanding the region requires looking closely at the distinct political, economic, and social dynamics shaping each country. This perspective set the tone for the symposium’s discussions throughout the afternoon.
The event began with a roundtable discussion on China–Southeast Asia relations, moderated by Juliet Lu (UBC, SPPGA/Forestry) and featuring Lynette Ong (University of Toronto), Jeff Wasserstrom (UC Irvine), Bill Hurst (University of Cambridge), and Taomo Zhou (National University of Singapore).
Panelists examined how Southeast Asian states are navigating China’s growing influence while balancing economic integration, security concerns, and domestic political dynamics.
A key insight emerging from the discussion was that countries across the region are not choosing sides in a simple geopolitical competition. Instead, many pursue strategic hedging, maintaining economic ties with China while sustaining security partnerships with the United States and other partners.
Panelists also highlighted the importance of examining Southeast Asia country by country, rather than treating the region as a single political bloc. Domestic politics, diaspora communities, and economic interests all shape how individual societies interact with China and the wider international system.
The symposium’s second half featured a rapid-fire series of short presentations addressing key hotspots and issues across Asia. Nine Scholars delivered concise talks spanning topics from shifting appeal of democracy vs. autocracy in Asia to Myanmar’s humanitarian crisis, civil society and digital activism in Southeast Asia, Japan’s evolving security posture, global trade imbalances, India–Canada relations, Taiwan’s AI-driven economic growth and energy challenges, the geopolitics of critical mineral extraction, and the governance of artificial intelligence.
The sharp insights of the speakers were matched by thoughtful and engaged questions from the audience. Students, researchers, and policy professionals pressed speakers on issues ranging from diaspora politics and democratic resilience to technology governance and environmental impacts in the face of economic growth and AI.
The result was a lively exchange that reflected the symposium’s goal of fostering accessible, cross-discipline dialogue.
Throughout the afternoon, speakers repeatedly returned to the idea that the world is experiencing a period of geopolitical rupture. Global alliances are shifting. Trade patterns are evolving. Technology and social media is reshaping governance and political communication.
Yet what unfolded over the course of the symposium suggested something different.
In a moment defined by fragmentation and uncertainty, the gathering at IAR of experts and communities across disciplines, underscored the continued importance of discourse, especially when understanding Asia’s role in the global conversation has never been more critical.
