The Canadian government implemented “National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships” in 2021, which have required some researchers who apply for federal funds to undergo an additional screening by national security agencies. Having started with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), this policy will soon expand to other federal funding bodies, including the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) in 2023. The guidelines are intended to “help safeguard Canada‘s research ecosystem from foreign interference, espionage, and unwanted knowledge transfer that could contribute to: advancements in military, security and intelligence capabilities of states or groups that pose a threat to Canada; or disruption of the Canadian economy, society and critical infrastructure.” Although the guidelines do not refer to which states or groups are considered as posing a threat to Canada, it is reported that applications partnered with Chinese technology companies tend to receive rejections under the new screening. In the current climates of global competitions over technology, how are Chinese scholars and students on Canadian campuses experiencing these policy changes? How is national security screening affecting Canada‘s academic freedom? This panel provides the latest research outcomes as well as historical perspectives on this evolving issue.

This talk aims to introduce a new perspective in understanding the idea of “race” by juxtaposing the Transpacific and Transatlantic experiences. While racializations in the Transatlantic historically entailed the contact between different social groups who have obvious and often pronounced visible phenotypical differences, such as those of skin color and cranial shape, there are a variety of racialized groups, including Burakumin, ethnic Koreans, and ethnic Chinese in Japan, and Paekjong in Korea, who have no phenotypical differences from the majority. Racial discourse in these societies often adopt invisible factors such as “blood/descent” “purity/ impurity” in order to provide a basis for discrete value systems or the institutionalization of perception, thereby essentializing marginalized groups as races. I will present what I call the three dimensions of race, that is, “race,” “Race,” and “Race as Resistance,” to challenge the established claim that race is a modern and Western construction and broaden the understanding of the idea beyond the Transatlantic.

Written by: John Lorinc
Published: September 2023

"This spring, the University of Victoria‘s newly established research security office posted a list of Chinese universities that it said faculty should avoid due to unspecified national security risks. The wrinkle, however, was the list was compiled by a dubious Australian-based “think-tank” and the Canadian government, while requiring certain research security measures, had not yet issued any guidance on institutions to avoid. After several UVic faculty notified the university of the problem, the list was pulled from the website."

Published: September 27, 2023

The National Day of Truth and Reconciliation is an opportune moment to reflect upon views from the Asia Pacific, where 70 per cent of the global Indigenous population resides. The NDTR has its roots in Canada‘s historical and present-day experiences, but similar narratives echo among Indigenous Peoples worldwide, including amongst the diverse peoples and cultures of Asia, where Indigenous Peoples have their own unique relationships with state governments and broader society. This Dispatch emphasizes the diversity of Indigenous Peoples and their perspectives on truth and reconciliation. The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada has engaged with Indigenous voices in Canada, Taiwan, Japan, Aotearoa New Zealand, and Australia.

Published: October 3, 2023
Written by: Karoun Demirjian

The trip comes at a time of heightened tensions between Beijing and Washington, as the Biden administration restricts investments in key Chinese sectors while trying to improve relations.