The 9th South China Sea Conference: Cooperation for Regional Security and Development
The 9th International Conference on the South China Sea hosted by the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV), the Foundation for East Sea Studies (FESS) and the Vietnam Lawyers’ Association (VLA) took place at Ho Chi Minh City on 27-28 November, 2017.

Marking the 10th anniversary of the inauguration of the Initiative, this year's conference moved beyond an annual review to take stock of transformations in the South China Sea across many sectors over the last decade.
Below is the detailed programme of the Conference with videos for each session and links to panelists' presenation:
Booklet of Conference (Click here) (including Programme, List of international and localparticipants, Bio of role players and Executive summaries of papers) | |
Photos of Conference (Click here) | |
DAY 1 Thursday - November 8, 2018 |
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OPENING SESSION | |
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SESSION 1: Current State of Affairs in The South China Sea Moderator: Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Vu Tung, President of the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam |
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This session updates recent development in the South China Sea and explores different perspectives within the region in a search for causes of such development and identify alterations in key stakeholders’ approaches. Speakers are required to review the past, explore the major policy shifts and assess how they have shaped the current state of affairs in the South China Sea.
Speakers:
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SESSION 2: Powers' Interactions and Rule-based Order in the South China Sea Moderator: Prof. Brahma Chellaney, Professor of Strategic Studies, Centre for Policy Research, India |
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As tensions are simmering, the South China Sea has become a theatre for rivalry among major and great powers, which prefer different set of rules and games. There has been no consensus on how the South China Sea issue should be managed and arising issues handled. This session explores major powers' visions for the South China Sea order and interactions among them. It is an urgent task for major users of the strategic waterway to understand each other's interests and preferences and discuss with coastal states rules and norms for conducts in South China Sea in support of peace and stability.
Speakers:
Presented by Mr. Wang Qu, Researcher, Faculty of Social Science, University of Macau, China
“An Effect of Trump and More: The Emerging Retrenchment of China’s Strategic Posture”
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SESSION 3: The Military and Paramilitary Balance in The South China Sea Moderator: H.E. Le Cong Phung, Vice Chairman, The Foundation for East Sea Studies (FESS) |
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Over the last decade, the South China Sea has been more packed with a larger number of ships and aircraft. The greater concentration of force would increase the likelihood of encounters and clashes. This session takes stock of build-up, deployment, and other activities involving the military and paramilitary forces in the South China Sea region. The panelists are required to address the balance of naval and paramilitary forces, assess threats and risks to maritime navigation, security and stability of the entire South China Sea. They are also encouraged to work out proposed measures aimed at reducing “grey zones” and prompting de-militarization.
Speakers:
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SESSION 4: Activities at Sea: Sources of Conflict or Areas for Cooperation Moderator Prof. Carlyle A. Thayer, University of New South Wales at the Australian Defense Force Academy, Australia |
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This session reviews a range of undertakings pursued by parties in the South China Sea. Speakers are requested to address key controversies over exploration and exploitation of natural resources, fishing activities, maritime navigation, anti-piracy and anti-terrorism training and operations. By exploring the stakeholders, perspectives, and motivations, the discussion is aimed to assess the likelihood of conflicts and escalations, and at the same time to map out the areas for potential cooperation, or further cooperation.
Speakers:
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SESSION 5: Legal Dimensions in The South China Sea Moderator: Prof. Robert Beckman, Head of Ocean Law and Policy Programme, Centre for International Law (CIL), the National University of Singapore (NUS) |
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The session examines legal dimension in the South China Sea and newly arisen legal issues, which are critical to the international order in the South China Sea. Speakers are addressing some of the most critical aspects of legal dimension of the South China Sea issues, which including, but not limited to, marine environment protection, prevention of incidents at sea, the use of force or threat to use force, as well as revisiting the South China Sea arbitral award.
Speakers:
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SESSION 6: Sustainable Development and Cooperation Initiatives Moderator: Prof. Geneviève Bastid Burdeau, Professor of International Law, Sorbonne Law School (Univ. of Paris I); Member of the Institute of International Law, France |
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This session focuses on the political economy of the South China Sea problem. As disputes and tensions drag on, the state of commercial development, economic cooperation, and their effects on the management and resolution of existing disputes are among the key concerns. Also, the issue of sustainable development both at the national and regional levels is of great interest to the public. Therefore, panelists are proposed to discuss key economic initiatives and activities, which have potential of exerting substantial impacts on the state of affairs in the South China Sea region and beyond.
Speakers:
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SESSION 7: Code of Conduct (COC): Substance and Process Moderator: Prof. Leszek Buszynski, Visiting Fellow, Strategic & Defence Studies Centre, Australia |
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This special session is dedicated to the discussion on progress and obstacles to the formation of a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea. As China and ASEAN finalized the framework for the COC, the next phrase of substantive discussions on the set of rules and regulations as well as mechanisms for monitoring, investigation, and enforcement would be very important.
Panelists:
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CLOSING REMARKS |