Canada and the World

[AlvinofDiaspar]

That's Modhi's playbook in a oner! Leverage the diaspora.

All good, particularly with regards to our perception of China being different than others.

China has been playing the diaspora playbook for ages - look up United Front (and there are many stories of their influence ops here in Canada). I have a feeling Modi's been playing a similar (but perhaps less well-organized) game here as well. I think we need to be frank about setting boundaries re: external powers influencing diasporic communities here.

AoD

 

[afransen]

I wonder how useful the diaspora is. Many of them left China for a reason, and I'm sure many have horror stories of what happened to their parents, grandparents at the hands of the CCP.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

I wonder how useful the diaspora is. Many of them left China for a reason, and I'm sure many have horror stories of what happened to their parents, grandparents at the hands of the CCP.

Some, not all (especially those who left as "opportunists") - besides beliefs and feelings are malleable.

AoD

 

[Lennox970]

I wonder how useful the diaspora is. Many of them left China for a reason, and I'm sure many have horror stories of what happened to their parents, grandparents at the hands of the CCP.

I recall reading an opinion that the Chinese can be prosperous in anything, so long as its not in China.

And yes, the long arm of the CCP.

 

[kEiThZ]

China has been playing the diaspora playbook for ages - look up United Front (and there are many stories of their influence ops here in Canada). I have a feeling Modi's been playing a similar (but perhaps less well-organized) game here as well. I think we need to be frank about setting boundaries re: external powers influencing diasporic communities here.

AoD

Every country does it. We do it too. Our embassies work hard to establish contact with Canadian expats. Particularly those with any real influence. That's just part of the game.

Nothing wrong with this. Using that contact to influence elections or track down dissidents is the issue. And that is where we have to be careful.

Should be noted, in my time in, some of our best people have been first gen immigrants, who understand the culture, linguistic nuances, and mentality of our adversaries better than anybody else. We should be doing our best to protect these folks from manipulation and blackmail.

 

[afransen]

I just remember reading The Three-Body Problem, which included a pretty vivid depiction of the Cultural Revolution, made an impression on me. Hard to think that people who escaped that would look back fondly on the political system that inflicted that.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

Every country does it. We do it too. Our embassies work hard to establish contact with Canadian expats. Particularly those with any real influence. That's just part of the game.

Nothing wrong with this. Using that contact to influence elections or track down dissidents is the issue. And that is where we have to be careful.

Should be noted, in my time in, some of our best people have been first gen immigrants, who understand the culture, linguistic nuances, and mentality of our adversaries better than anybody else. We should be doing our best to protect these folks from manipulation and blackmail.

And espionage. Yes - it is an advantage, but it can cut both ways.

I just remember reading The Three-Body Problem, which included a pretty vivid depiction of the Cultural Revolution, made an impression on me. Hard to think that people who escaped that would look back fondly on the political system that inflicted that.

Economic progress - the majority (who doesn't have the wherewithal to escape anyways) aren't that interested in past sins (and the worst of it was scapegoated on the aberration that is the Gang of Four - instead of it being a systemic weakness in the political system). Why would anyone take the personal risk of political participation when there is increasing standards of living and nominal stability? There is a reason why economic development, harmonious society and strong country are the catchwords. And funny you should mention Three Body Problem - considering what Liu Cixin said about certain contemporary Chinese government policies.

AoD

 

[Lennox970]

True. Butter Chicken soft power > Kung Pao chicken soft power.

A good lamb rogan josh is soft power on steroids! But usually negated if washed down by Cobra.

 

[Bojaxs]

Every country does it. We do it too. Our embassies work hard to establish contact with Canadian expats. Particularly those with any real influence. That's just part of the game.

Nothing wrong with this. Using that contact to influence elections or track down dissidents is the issue. And that is where we have to be careful.

Should be noted, in my time in, some of our best people have been first gen immigrants, who understand the culture, linguistic nuances, and mentality of our adversaries better than anybody else. We should be doing our best to protect these folks from manipulation and blackmail.

Canadian embassies reaching out to undercover agents located in foreign countries is not what I consider to be the same as leveraging an entire diaspora.

 

[Lennox970]

Canadian embassies reaching out to undercover agents located in foreign countries is not what I consider to be the same as leveraging an entire diaspora.

I agree, definitely different things.

And I was just going to write about what Canadian diasporas? We mostly have expats in small packets across the world. Then I remembered Lebanon, 2006.

 

[Bojaxs]

I agree, definitely different things.

And I was just going to write about what Canadian diasporas? We mostly have expats in small packets across the world. Then I remembered Lebanon, 2006.

Expat and diaspora don't exactly mean the same thing. "Diaspora" falls more along the lines of ethnicity while "expat" has more to do with nationality.

There's certainly Canadian expats, but no diaspora. After all, what ethnicity is a Canadian? This also applies to America.

 

[kEiThZ]

And by giving away part of our warstock of towed artillery, perhaps an opportunity to invest in self-propelled or other ground-based options.

Indeed. We lost that ability when we scrapped the M109s. Mind you, if we can’t get the tanks over seas in a hurry, can we get SPGs? I’d rather spend the money on the RCN and RCAF.

Going to reply to this topic here.

The Ukraine war is kind of showing how vulnerable towed artillery in anything beyond lower intensity counterinsurgency operations.

The proliferation of both sensors and quick response options (drones, counterbattery fire, loitering munitions, etc) means that shoot-and-scoot is vital to survival. I would argue that regular force shouldn't have any towed artillery. Leave that to the reservists. If armoured SPHs aren't affordable, at least go truck mounted:

Archer Artillery System - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

CAESAR self-propelled howitzer - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

155 mm SpGH Zuzana - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

We also need to think beyond howitzers. It's getting pretty clear that standard howitzers have limited relevance in higher intensity conflicts with more mobile forces. This is why the USMC ditching 15 artillery battalions and converting them to truck mounted rocket battalions. The HIMARS that will equip these units can also fire short and intermediate ballistic missiles.

M142 HIMARS - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Heck, give Ukraine all the M777s and launch projects to get truck mounted howitzers and MLRS.

 

[kEiThZ]

Broadly, we need a real rethink on force design going forward. Artillery is just one piece. It also baffles me, for example, why an air force of 20k operates four different types of helicopters including the spectacularly useless Griffon, a helicopter that is too big to scout, and too underpowered to really lift much, too slow to escort a Chinook, and too small to even lift a full infantry section.

Moving forward, not only do we need to rethink the needed capabilities, but there needs to be serious thought given to synergies and efficiencies.

I've talked about on the first page. I'm a big fan of what the US Marine Corps is doing with Force Design 2030 [PDF warning]. It is, undoubtedly, very controversial. No tanks. Less infantry. Less artillery. More sensors. More missiles. It's a force that is designed to move quickly, strike and leave. It's not a force designed to fight in long wars of occupation.

Promo video of the rationale here:

Good video explaining the changes here:

I think we should copy this model. It's closer to what most Canadians envision our military doing and would let us actually develop higher competency in some niches.

 

[kEiThZ]

Canada’s answer to Space Force

Canada’s answer to Space Force

spacenews.com

 

[kEiThZ]

Was listening to a Twitter Spaces with Australian Major General Mick Ryan (great author and theorist). He pointed out that the Canadian training mission in Ukraine was actually the largest and is definitely an important part of why the Ukrainians are fighting so well. He didn't think we got enough credit for that.

Operation UNIFIER - Canada.ca

Canada’s contribution to support Ukrainian forces through capacity building.

www.canada.ca

Should be noted that 6 of the task force commanders from that mission were sanctioned by the Russians today. Definitely a badge of honour.