The RSIS’ Maritime Security Programme and the South China Sea Strategic Probing Initiative (SCSPI) of the Peking University Institute of Ocean Research, conducted a joint roundtable on “Recent Developments in the South China Sea” on 13 January 2020 at the Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium. The Chinese delegation was led by Prof Hu Bo, Director of the Center for Maritime Strategy and Director of SCSPI, Peking University. More than 20 participants from RSIS and other local think tanks participated in the roundtable.
The first part of the roundtable featured presentations by Dr Tang Siew Mun (Head, ASEAN Studies Centre, ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute) and Assoc Prof Lei Xiaolu (China Institute of Boundary and Ocean Studies, Wuhan University). They shared the ASEAN and Chinese perspective on the ongoing negotiations for the South China Sea Code of Conduct (COC).
This was followed by presentations from Dr Cao Qun (Associate Research Fellow, Center for Maritime Security and Cooperation, China Institute of International Studies) and Dr Collin Koh (Research Fellow, Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies, RSIS). Both speakers shared their perspectives on the challenges that regional navies and law enforcement agencies face in enforcing maritime rules and norms in regional waters.
The roundtable ended with an open discussion, which provided an opportunity for speakers and participants to exchange their views on the latest developments in the South China Sea and their impact on regional maritime security.
