On December 7-8, 2017, the CSARC and the National Institute for South China Sea Studies co-hosted the International Symposium on “Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)” and Common Development of the Greater South China Sea Region, and the First Annual Conference of the CSARC.

The Symposium aims to assess and define the implications of the BRI in global peace and security, and provide insights and suggestions for intra-and inter-regional cooperation within the framework of the BRI in various fields of marine economy and ocean governance. More than 70 participants were present at the symposium. Guest speakers were scholars and experts from various government agencies as well as distinguished think tanks and research institutes of China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Belgium, Italy, Portugal, and the United Kingdom.

On 6 November 2017, the 3rd program of China-ASEAN Academy on Ocean Law and Governance kicked off in Haikou, China. It is co-organized by the CSARC, National Institute for South China Sea Studies (NISCSS), the International Ocean Institute-Canada and the Institute of Boundary and Ocean Studies of Wuhan University.

The ten-day program covers various subjects, such as the law of the sea, maritime delimitation, international shipping and connectivity, climate change and adaption, marine environmental protection and preservation, biological restoration and sustainable development, as well as transdisciplinary approach to ocean governance. It is mainly course based, yet also includes simulation exercises, group reports, and a field trip to Hainan Maritime Safety Administration. Twelve prominent scholars and experts are going to deliver lectures at the program, while there are over 30 participants from ocean-related government agencies, research institutes and think tanks of China and ASEAN countries.

Inaugurated in January 2016, the Academy has been well reputed as an institutionalized platform in fostering regional capacity building in ocean governance. As a key project under the auspices of China-ASEAN Maritime Cooperation Fund, it aims to enhance mutual trust and functional cooperation among China and ASEAN countries, as well as the development of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

On 25-26 March 2017, the CSARC and the National Institute for South China Sea Studies (NISCSS) held the South China Sea-themed sub-forum as part of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) annual conference (2017), bringing together nearly 100 scholars and experts from over ten countries and regions. The sub-forum was themed “21st-Century Maritime Silk Road and Common Development of the Greater South China Sea Region”, and included a closed-door session and an open-door session.

Mr. Liu Zhenmin, Vice Foreign Minister of China, delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony. The open-door session was chaired by Ms. Fu Ying, Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Chinese National People’s Congress. At the open-door session, remarks were made by the speakers  including Dr. Wu Shicun, president of the NISCSS and chairman of the board of directors of the CSARC; Tan Sri Rastam Mohd Isa, Chairman and Chief Executive of Malaysian Institute of Strategic and International Studies; Prof. James Laurenceson, Deputy Director of Australia-China Relations Institute at Australian University of Technology; and Prof. Zheng Yongnian, Director of the East Asian Institute at the National University of Singapore.

The close-door session covered three panels: “South China Sea: what’s happening and what’s next”, “21st-Century Maritime Silk Road and connectivity of development strategies among South China Sea States: challenges and opportunities”, and “Functional cooperation under the DOC framework & cooperation mechanisms in enclosed and semi-enclosed sea: existing practices and applicable approaches for the South China Sea”. The exchanges and discussions brought about positive consensuses and constructive opinions.

The participants agreed that the South China Sea situation is undergoing profound and complex changes, has become a hot spot in the international community, and is an increasingly important factor influencing regional security situation. Therefore, it is necessary for the parties concerned to make further efforts to build consensuses, dispel misgivings, strengthen dialogues and exchanges, accommodate each other’s interests and concerns, and promote pragmatic maritime cooperation. Now it is the right time to build the 21st-Century maritime silk road and establish cooperation mechanisms in the greater South China Sea region. As a pragmatic and effective dialogue, this conference is believed to play a positive and important role in stabilizing the South China Sea, promoting cooperation and bolstering mutual trust.

As Dr. Wu remarked in his speech, since the second half of 2016, thanks to the joint efforts by China and ASEAN countries, the overall situation in the South China Sea region has steadily progressed towards detente, and has returned to the right track of consultation and cooperation. The year of 2017 marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of the ASEAN. China and ASEAN countries should think about how to further enhance mutual trust, deepen cooperation, manage disputes, and stabilize the South China Sea. We should also think about how to promote the common development in the greater South China Sea region and develop a China-ASEAN community of destiny and interests. To this end, President Wu made three proposals.

First, littoral countries in the South China Sea should rely on the South China Sea as a link, focus on the connectivity and maritime cooperation, and establish a new cooperation platform for economic cooperation circle of the greater South China Sea region. In this regard, “the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Mechanism” and “the China-Indochina Peninsula Economic Corridor” have provided important experience for us. Second, the CSARC could play a bigger role in aggregating resources in South China Sea studies. Taking advantage of China-ASEAN maritime cooperation fund, the CSARC could further promote think-tank exchanges and personnel training, and provide intellectual and personnel support for pragmatic maritime cooperation programs. Third, China and the ASEAN should continue to push forward the cooperation within the framework of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and speed up the consultation on the framework text of the COC. These two mechanisms could provide an institutional guarantee for managing disputes and enhancing cooperation.

The sub-forum is a high-level multilateral dialogue mechanism for international scholars in maritime studies to exchange ideas, pool wisdom and develop consensuses for peace and stability in the South China Sea. By far it has been held for four consecutive years as part of the BFA annual conference.

On 7 November 2016, the second program of China-ASEAN Academy on Ocean Law and Governance is launched in Haikou, China. It is co-organized by the CSARC, National Institute for South China Sea Studies (NISCSS) and the International Ocean Institute (IOI)-Canada.

The ten-day program covers various subjects, such as the law of the sea, maritime delimitation, international shipping, regional security, climate change, environmental protection, living and non-living resources management and development, and comprehensive marine management. The courses are given in English by 17 prominent experts from China and abroad, including Vladimir Golitsyn (president of International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea) and Sorajak Kasemsuvan (former Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand).

The participants are composed of over 30 scholars and officials from ocean-related agencies, universities and research institutions in China and ASEAN countries. There will be lectures, discussions, group course work and visits to Hainan Maritime Safety Administration and Hainan Academy of Ocean and Fisheries Sciences so that the participants can get an understanding of the development of ocean industries in Hainan.

As an important project under the auspices of China-ASEAN Maritime Cooperation Fund, this academy is designed as an institutionalized platform to promote maritime personnel training and exchanges among China and the ASEAN countries, and has been widely acclaimed since its launch. It will play a positive role in training maritime personnel and enhancing regional mutual trust. It will also have a far-reaching impact on the joint efforts of China and ASEAN countries to bolster maritime cooperation and build maritime silk road in the 21st century.

Participants and Speakers visited Hainan Academy of Ocean and Fisheries Sciences

On 13 November 2016, part of the participants and speakers of the 2nd program of China-ASEAN Academy on Ocean Law and Governance visited the Qionghai tropical marine fish aquaculture base affiliated with Hainan Academy of Ocean and Fisheries Sciences. They visited the breeding pools of aquatic creatures and grouper breeding system, and learned about the current conditions of the scientific research base, the development and protection of fishery resources, as well as the promotion of aquatic research results.

2nd program of China-ASEAN Academy on Ocean Law and Governance closed 

On 16 November 2016, the closing ceremony of Second Program of China-ASEAN Academy on Ocean Law and Governance was successfully held at National Institute for South China Sea Studies.

Over 30 participants from China and ASEAN countries presented their coursework and answered lecturers’ questions. Dr. Wu Shicun, Chairman of the CSARC and president of the NISCSS, Judge Vladimir Golitsyn, president of International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, and the lecturers of the program awarded the graduation certificates to all the participants.

In his closing remarks, Dr. Wu extended his gratitude to every lecturer and congratulations to the participants on their graduation. He also hoped that the participants could strengthen friendship and better apply the knowledge to future work so as to further promote regional cooperation.

In the speeches of the representatives from China and ASEAN, they believed that they benefited greatly from this program by enriching the knowledge of ocean law and governance, and deepening friendship and exchanges with participants from different countries as well.

On 25 March 2016, China-Southeast Asia Research Center on the South China Sea (CSARC) was inaugurated at Boao. Initiated by the National Institute for South China Sea Studies (NISCSS), the CSARC also incorporates influential think tanks in Southeast Asia such as the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Indonesia. The CSARC was inaugurated by the NISCSS president Wu Shicun and CSIS co-founder and vice chairman Jusuf Wanandi. Mr. Liu Zhenmin, Vice Foreign Minister of China and Mr. Li Jun, Deputy Secretary-general of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee were also present at the ceremony.

Mr. Liu expressed warm congratulations for the establishment of the CSARC and expected more exchanges and cooperation among think tanks in the South China Sea region on maritime issues. Mr. Li remarked that exchanges and cooperation among think tanks will play a unique and important role in promoting peace and stability in the South China Sea as well as uniting regional countries against common challenges.

Based in China and facing Southeast Asia, the CSARC will engage in global outreach and set a new paradigm for regional maritime studies. The CSARC will invite eminent scholars in South China Sea studies from China and other countries to serve as research fellows. It will also strengthen academic links with counterparts through international conferences and academic visits. It will convey peaceful and rational voices to the international community with the common vision of regional countries to maintain peace and stability.