The 14th South China Sea International Conference titled "Peaceful Sea – Solid Recovery" is expected to be an unique opportunity for participants to comprehensively analyze the state of affairs of the South China Sea and discuss measures to promote maritime cooperation and explore pathways toward the enhancement of security and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific.
Read more >>
Under the theme “Marine scientific research: confidence building and environment sustainability”, the 9th Ocean Dialogue seeks to explore possibilities to enhance marine scientific research (MSR) in the South China Sea, including the applicability of legal framework under UNCLOS for MSR as ...
Read more >>
By Collin Koh
This short paper seeks to highlight key updates on naval developments in the SCS since the start of COVID-19. But why specifically “naval” when coastguards appear to be on the front page of recent incidents in the disputed waters? The key development ...
Read more >>
By Richard Javad Heydarian
The paper analyzes the intersection of three key currents in Asian geopolitics, namely (i) the emergence Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as a fulcrum of pan-regional integration, (ii) the evolution of South China Sea disputes as the preeminent geopolitical conflict ...
Read more >>
By Cdr Kapil Narula (Retd.)
Promoting marine renewable energy (MRE) and implementation of Emission Control Areas (ECAs) are some of the measures which can be adopted by countries in the Indian Ocean Region and the South China Sea to promote maritime sustainability. Financing sustainable maritime development ...
Read more >>
By James Borton
The protection of marine environment and ensuring the ocean’s sustainability are global issues. Nowhere are they more important than in the South China Sea, a body of water offering abundant and complex marine ecosystems. Marine citizen science, along with the promise ...
Read more >>
With the theme “40th Anniversary of UNCLOS: Promoting maritime cooperation in South East Asia”, the 8th Ocean Dialogue seeks to discuss maritime issues of common concern in the South East Asia region, promote common understanding of UNCLOS, and explore potential maritime ...
Read more >>
By Nguyen Hung Son, Do Hoang
South China Sea is the subject of interests far beyond the littoral states, for what happens in the South China Sea would have deep consequences elsewhere. Most states also clearly indicate preference to lawfare to other means of contestation, because a ...
Read more >>
By Nguyen Hong Thao, Nguyen Thi Lan Huong
It is conceivable that the South China Sea Arbitral Award will continue to be a helpful guide leading the concerned parties to develop a viable rules-based order in the South China Sea, rather than allowing the region to become a 'might makes ...
Read more >>
By Thuc D. Pham
The geopolitical landscape of the Indo-Asia-Pacific is changing considerably, marked by growing strategic competition between major powers, particularly the U.S. and China, at the time of the mysterious Covid-19 pandemic spreading worldwide.
Read more >>
By Ho Hong Hanh
China announced its new Coast Guard Law containing worrisome provisions that need further clarification. Japan, a prominent claimant in the East China Sea, feels threatened by this law.
Read more >>
By Nguyen Hung Son
Major power competition, particularly the growing Sino-US multi-faceted rivalry characterized global politics in 2020. The South China Sea featured prominently in this rivalry in 2020.
Read more >>
By Hoang Do
Germany's plan to deploy naval ship in the Indo-Pacific does not change its neutral position in the South China Sea dispute, is a careful practice of international law, and therefore will not erode regional stability nor any littoral country's sovereignty as China ...
Read more >>
By Nguyen Hong Thao
Any country that does not make a drastic response to the Chinese claims right from the start, will one day become a victim.
Read more >>
By Nguyen Hong Thao
The US communication added a voice to the common position of Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines and Indonesia on consideration of UNCLOS as the sole legal basis for defining, in a comprehensive and exhaustive manner, the scope of their respective maritime entitlements in ...
Read more >>
By Tomas Jevsejevas
Vietnam is advancing Naval Diplomacy, and it could do much more.
Read more >>
By Vo Ngoc Diep
The note seems to indicate, for the first time, an official Vietnamese position on the legal status of all high-tide features in both the Spratly and Paracel Islands. It implies that all high-tide features in the Spratly Islands, as well as in ...
Read more >>
By Thuc D. Pham
Suggestions for lasting peace in the South China Sea and beyond need to incorporate small and medium states as well.
Read more >>
By Quach Thi Huyen
"Four-Sha" is a lens through which Chinese long-term ambitious claims over the South China Sea is fully exposed. The current global health crisis provides a window of opportunity for the realisation of Chinese lofty hegemonic dream. While the international community may ...
Read more >>
By Nguyen Hong Thao
The 2019 Malaysian partial CLCS submission renewed the legal exchanges over the South China Sea. Most of the claimants, except China and Brunei, through their statements and actions, expressed acceptance and support for the 2016 Tribunal Award.
Read more >>
By Derek Grossman and Logan Ma
If history is a good indication of what to expect in the future, then Beijing is likely to double down on the Maritime Militia in virtually any scenario imaginable. That means it should be a force to be reckoned in the ...
Read more >>
By Do Thanh Hai
Though recent allegations raise more questions than they provide answers, they should reinforce the need for greater transparency in the South China Sea.
Read more >>
By Koki Sato
The international community should better understand how potential aggressors can leverage the ambiguity for low-level armed attack or aggression and be prepared to clearly identify it as an internationally wrongful act.
Read more >>
By Aaron Kelly, Michael Tkacik
To strengthen its position in the Philippines and thus in the first island chain, the United States must achieve two key goals: diversify its diplomatic engagement with Manila and coordinate military resources and strategy.
Read more >>
By Ulises Granados
As it might be difficult for China and the Philippines to defend their official claims over Scarborough as their own territory before the 20th century in an international court, both countries should engage in constructive negotiations over joint development. This is ...
Read more >>
By Nguyen Hong Thao
The submission by Malaysia represents a positive step forward for coastal states in the SCS to clarify their claims and seriously discuss maritime delimitation in accordance with UNCLOS and the interpretation of its article 121 (3) by the 2016 Tribunal Award.
Read more >>
By Do Thanh Hai
As Vietnam stands its ground and attests to the legitimacy of its claims in public, the ball is in Beijing’s court to decide whether China wants to be a responsible emerging power.
Read more >>
By Nguyen Hong Thao
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is one of the most important achievements of international law and the UN in the 20th century and continues to assert its role as the "Constitution of the Seas and ...
Read more >>
By Satoru Nagao
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe worried that the South China Sea might become a ‘Lake Beijing,’ ... a sea deep enough for PLA navy to base their nuclear-powered attack submarines, capable of launching missiles with nuclear warheads.
Read more >>
By Derek Grossman
Beijing may be probing the durability of deepening U.S.-Vietnam military-to-military relations. Vietnam has harbored serious questions about the sustainability of U.S. security commitments to allies, let alone what a “free and open” Indo-Pacific Strategy means for U.S. partners. China’s seizure of ...
Read more >>