OTTAWA, Canada — The Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, in partnership with the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa, Global Affairs Canada, the Canadian Department of National Defence, the Centre for International Governance Innovation, and the William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies, hosted a workshop on China’s hybrid warfare strategies July 7–11.

Held in Ottawa, the five-day event convened emerging leaders from the Indo-Pacific, the Americas, and Europe to explore economic coercion, cyber threats and strategic risks to the defense industrial base. Participants engaged in scenario planning, strategic analysis and peer-to-peer exchanges to better understand the multilayered and multidomain tactics employed by China.

“This forum underscores the importance of cultivating a networked cohort of future leaders who are equipped to navigate the complexities of strategic competition and hybrid conflict,” said Raquel Garbers, a visiting executive at the Centre for International Governance Innovation.

The event marked the third Emerging Leader Forum, part of DKI APCSS’s Young Civilian Defense Leaders Program launched in 2023. The forum aims to strengthen international cooperation, expand professional networks and prepare future security leaders for the complexities of 21st-century conflict.

"These emerging leaders will face some of the world’s most complex challenges. To succeed, they’ll need a strong global network that enhances their ability to lead, adapt and innovate,” said Col. Matthew Kent, associate dean at DKI APCSS.