The Centre for Non-Traditional Security (NTS) Studies at RSIS organised the “RSIS Workshop on Revisiting Biological Weapons Convention’s Confidence-Building Measures: ASEAN Perspective”, which took place from 18 to 19 September 2025. The workshop brought together Asia-Pacific experts from diverse professional backgrounds including security, public health, academia, practitioners, and the biotech industry, to advance Biological Weapons Convention’s (BWC) Confidence-Building Measures (CBMs) in Southeast Asia and the broader region, with attention to the region’s specific issues, norms, practices, and mechanisms.
The workshop examined the strengths and weaknesses of current CBMs and proposed ways in which existing regional mechanisms, though not formally part of the BWC framework, can provide valuable lessons for strengthening BWC-related CBMs. Participants also highlighted the rapid growth of biotechnology and artificial intelligence, noting that current CBMs remain insufficient to address these emerging challenges and emphasised the urgent need to adapt BWC transparency measures accordingly. In addition, the discussions pointed to the limited engagement of key stakeholders, including scientific communities, regional biorisk associations, and other relevant professional and societal networks, whose participation is essential for effective and sustainable CBM implementation.
With these issues in mind, several recommendations for adopting CBM-like mechanisms were proposed. One suggestion was to conduct peer-review exercises that extend beyond joint research, development, and workshops to include on-site evaluations. Another was to establish a roster of BWC experts for the region, similar to the Chemical, Biological, Radiological (CBR) Network within the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM). Participants also explored the possibility of developing of a collaborative pathogen-inventory software, and finally emphasised leveraging the upcoming ASEAN biosafety and biosecurity network to play a more regionally relevant role for Southeast Asia and beyond.
