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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.

December 4, 2017

The 9th South China Sea Conference: Cooperation for Regional Security and Development

On 27-28 November 2017, in Ho Chi Minh City, the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV), the Foundation for East Sea Studies (FESS) and the Vietnam Lawyers' Association (VLA) co-organized The 9th International Conference on the South China Sea themed "Cooperation for Regional Security and Development". This year's conference attracted nearly 200 participants, including over 90 international experts, 70 Vietnamese scholars and officials, 20 representatives from 17 foreign missions in Vietnam and 60 correspondents from 35 domestic and foreign news agencies. The conference is regarded as a prestigious annual forum on South China Sea issue, bringing together many of the world's leading experts in the field.

Marking the 10^th 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:

PROGRAMME

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*
OPENING SESSION
	Opening Remarks by Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Vu Tung, President of the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam *Welcome Remarks* by *Mr. Ho Ky Minh, Member of the Standing Board of Da Nang Municipal Communist Party Committee, Vice Chairman of Da Nang People's Committee Keynote Address* by H.E. Judge Vladimir Vladimirovich Golitsyn, President of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) (2014-2017)
*SESSION 1: Current State of Affairs in The South China Sea* Moderator: Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Vu Tung, President of the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam
	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:* Prof. Brahma Chellaney, Professor of Strategic Studies, Centre for Policy Research, India *“South China Sea’s centrality to the Indo-Pacific region”* Prof. You Ji, Head of Department of Government and Public Administration, University of Macau, China *“South China Sea’s centrality to the Indo-Pacific region”* Dr. Euan Graham, Director, International Security Program, the Lowy Institute, Australia *“The South China Sea Conundrum”* Dr. Aries A. Arugay, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, University of the Philippines in Diliman, Philippines *“When Populists Perform Foreign Policy: The South China Sea Dispute and the Philippines under Duterte”* (Click for Presentation) Prof. Pham Quang Minh, Dean of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi. *“Vietnam’s Strategic Options in the South China Sea in the Age of Trump”* (Click for Presentation)
*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
	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:* Ms. Colin Willett, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary, State Department, United States *“US’ perspective of the South China Sea Order: Strategy Under the Trump Administration”* Prof. Shi Yinhong, Director of the Center on American Studies, Renmin University, China 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”* Mr. Hideshi Tokuchi, Senior Fellow, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies, Japan *“A Japanese Perspective of the South China Sea Order”* Ms. Theresa Fallon, Member of the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific (CSCAP-EU) *“Challenges to Maritime Security in Asia and Implications for Europe”* (Click for Presentation)
*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)
	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:* Dr. Fu-Kuo Liu, Senior Fellow, Institute of International Relations, Taiwan Chengchi University *“Naval build-up and deployment in the South China Sea”* (Click for Presentation) Prof. Carlyle A. Thayer, University of New South Wales at the Australian Defense Force Academy, Australia *“Law Enforcement in the South China Sea: The Role of Regional Coast Guards”* (Click for Presentation) Mr. Lyle J. Morris, Senior Policy Analyst, RAND Corporation, United States *“Grey zones between Navy, Law Enforcement and Maritime Militia”* (Click for Presentation) Dr. Do Thanh Hai, Director, Center for Information and Analysis, Bien Dong Institute for Maritime Studies, Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam *“An Assessment of Strategic Threats and Risks in the South China Sea”* (Click for Presentation)
*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
	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:* Prof. Renping Zhang, Director, Center for International Maritime Convention Studies, Dalian Maritime University, China *“Maritime Cooperation for Regional Security in the South China Sea”* (Click for Presentation) Ms. Shafiah F. Muhibat, Senior Fellow, Centre for Strategic and International Studies, Indonesia; Maritime Security Programme, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Singapore *“Law Enforcement and Illegal Fishing: Incidents in the Indonesian Waters”* (Click for Presentation) Captain Martin A. Sebastian RMN (R), Senior Fellow/Centre Head, Centre for Maritime Security and Diplomacy, Maritime Institute of Malaysia (MIMA), Malaysia *“Fighting Piracy and Terrorism:* *The Need to Reform Approaches to Maritime Security”*
*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)
	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:* Prof. Geneviève Bastid Burdeau, Professor of International Law, Sorbonne Law School (Univ. of Paris I); Member of the Institute of International Law, France *“The Use of Force and Threat to Use Force in International Law and Practices in the South China Sea”* (Click for Presentation) Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Thi Lan Anh, Deputy Director and Senior Fellow, Bien Dong Institute for Maritime Studies, Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV) *“International Law and Prevention of Incidents at Sea”* (Click for Presentation) Dr. Kim Wonhee, Senior Researcher, Korea Maritime Institute, Korea *“International Law and Protection of Marine Environment in the South China Sea”* (Click for Presentation) Prof. Jay Batongbacal, Director, Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea, University of the Philippines, Philippine *“Philippines v. China Revisited: Options and Opportunities”* (Click for Presentation)
*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
	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:* Ms. Chen Chenchen, Deputy Director of the Macro Research Department at Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China *“China’s new South China Sea approach following Belt and Road Initiative”* Ms. Joanna Mossop, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand *“The Future of* *Sustainable fisheries in the South China Sea”* (Click for Presentation) Prof. David M. Ong, Research Professor of International & Environmental Law, Nottingham Law School, Nottingham Trent University, UK *“Prospects for Joint Development in the South China Sea: Implications of Recent International Decisions & Regional State Practice”* (Click for Presentation) Commander Nguyen Khac Vuot, Director, International Cooperation Department, Vietnam Coast Guard *“Cooperate for Safe and Security at Sea”* (Click for Presentation)
*SESSION 7:* *Code of Conduct (COC): Substance and Process* Moderator: Prof. Leszek Buszynski, Visiting Fellow, Strategic & Defence Studies Centre, Australia
	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. Presentation, by Prof. Robert Beckman, Head of Ocean Law and Policy Programme, Centre for International Law (CIL), the National University of Singapore (NUS) *“Can the COC establish a Framework for a Cooperative Mechanism?”* (Click for Presentation) *Panelists:* Prof. Renping Zhang, Director, Center for International Maritime Convention Studies, Dalian Maritime University, China Prof. Jay Batongbacal, Director, Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea, University of the Philippines Captain Martin A. Sebastian RMN (R), Senior Fellow/Centre Head, Centre for Maritime Security and Diplomacy, Maritime Institute of Malaysia (MIMA), Malaysia Ms. Shafiah F. Muhibat, Senior Fellow, Centre for Strategic and International Studies, Indonesia; Maritime Security Programme, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Singapore Dr. Tran Truong Thuy, Senior Fellow, Foundation for East Sea Studies (FESS), Viet Nam
	CLOSING REMARKS