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

Monday - November 14, 2016

OPENING SESSION

Moderator: Mr. Nguyen Van Quyen, President of the Vietnamese Lawyers’ Association (VLA)


(Click to see VIDEO)
  • Opening Remarks by Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Vu Tung, President of the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam
  • Welcome Remarks by Mr. Le Thanh Quang, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee of Khanh Hoa Province

SESSION 1: The Origins of the South China Sea Disputes: Historical Perspectives

Moderator: Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Vu Tung, President of the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam


(Click to see VIDEO)

Most of the disputes in the South China Sea have existed for quite a while. This session examines the activities of claimants and stakeholders throughout history to trace the origin and evolution of the territorial and maritime disputes in the South China Sea. Who claims what in the South China Sea and since when? What were the factors driving the claimants’ interests in offshore territories? How have major powers got involved in the South China Sea? How have the courses of their national development influenced the South China Sea coastal countries’ maritime policies? How have maritime aspirations been incorporated into national narratives and geopolitical considerations to inform the policies of regional and extra-regional states in the South China Sea?

Speakers:

·     Dr. Ulises Granados, Coordinator of Asia-Pacific Studies, The Autonomous Technology Institute of Mexico

“The Evolution of the South China Sea Disputes: Notes from a Historian” (Click for Presentation)

·      Dr. Gerard Sasges, Assistant Professor, Department of Southeast Asian Studies, National University of Singapore

“The Past and Present of Marine Science in the South China Sea” (Click for Presentation)

·     Dr. François-Xavier Bonnet, French Institute for Research on   Contemporary Southeast Asia (Irasec)

“Geopolitics of the Spratly Islands: Of secret Sea-lanes and Submarines” (Click for Presentation)

·        Mr. Bill Hayton, Associate Fellow, Chatham House (the Royal Institute for International Affairs), London, UK

“From the Paracels to the Spratlys: the expansion of China’s South China Sea claim 1933-1946” (Click for Presentation)

SESSION 2: Whither the South China Sea Tensions?

Moderator: Prof. Stein Tønnesson, Research Professor, Peace Research Institute Oslo


(Click to see VIDEO)

2016 has witnessed significant changes to the status quo in the South China Sea region, strategically and legally speaking. This session takes stock of the rhetoric and actions of the claimants and other relevant stakeholders with a view to mapping out continuity and changes in these countries’ policies and the dynamics of interactions between them that have shaped the current state of affairs as well as the possible contours of things in the future. Based on discussions of recent developments in the South China Sea, speakers are expected to identify general trends in the South China Sea situation in 2017 and beyond. 

·       Dr. Ju Hai Long, Executive Director of Center for South China Sea Studies; School of International Studies; Jinan University, China

“South China Sea Conundrum And Asia Pacific Order”

·        Mr. Gregory Poling, Director of the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative and a fellow with the Southeast Asia Program at Center for Strategic and International Studies

“Preparing for the Next Stage of South China Sea Tensions” (Click for Presentation)

·       Mr. Evan Laksmana, Researcher, Department of Politics and International Relations, Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Indonesia

“The Regional Security Environment in the South China Sea: A non-claimant perspective” (Click for Presentation)

·         Mr. Richard Javad Heydarian, Assistant Professor, De La Salle University, The Philippines

“Tragedy of Small Power Politics: Great Powers and the Shifting Sands of Philippine Foreign Policy”

·        Dr. Truong Minh Huy Vu, Director, Saigon Centre for International Studies (SCIS), University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

“Post-South China Sea Arbitration and the Politics of “Struggling Coevolution”

SESSION 3:  International Law and the South China Sea

Moderator: Prof. Helmut Tuerk, Ambassador, Chairman of the Review Committee of the International Seabed Authority, Former Judge and Vice - President of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea


(Click to see VIDEO)

This session assesses the utility of international law in managing and resolving the South China Sea disputes in the post-award context of the Philippines-China arbitration case at the Arbitration Tribunal set up under Annex VII of the UNCLOS. Arguably the long-awaited award that has surprised most, if not all, international observers has also changed the legal status quo in the South China Sea. What are the implications of the arbitration award for the South China Sea situation going forward? How might the Tribunal’s assessment of evidence, reasoning and conclusion in the Philippines-China case affect the claims of the parties directly involved as well as other claimants? Have the Tribunal’s rulings helped clarify the picture, define the rights and obligations of the parties concerned and create an opportunity for cooperation and if so, in what ways? Alternatively, have them created more legal gray-zones that could spur further escalation? 

Panelists:

·       Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Thi Lan Anh, Deputy Director, Bien Dong Maritime Institute, Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam

“The Arbitration Award and Legal Implications for the Claims of Parties in the South China Sea” (Click for Presentation)

·       Prof. Yann Huei Song, Institute of European and American Studies, Academia Sinica, Taiwan

 “The Arbitration Award and Implications for the Activities of Parties in the South China Sea” (Click for Presentation)

·      Prof. Stein Tønnesson, Research Professor, Peace Research Institute Oslo

“Will the Arbitration Award Improve or Impair the Prospects for Conflict Resolution?” (Click for Presentation)

·     Prof. Robert Beckman, Head, Ocean Law and Policy Programme, Centre for International Law, The National University of Singapore (NUS)   

“The New Status Quo and Prospects for Maritime Cooperation in the South China Sea” (Click for Presentation)

SESSION 4: The political Economy of the South China Sea: Issues and Prospects

Moderator: Mr. Abhijit Singh, Senior Fellow and Head of the Maritime Security Initiative at the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in New Delhi, India


(Click to see VIDEO)

This session explores critical economic and environmental issues in the South China Sea. A range of factors have impacted on the political economy of the South China Sea, including the falling price of energy, the depletion of fish stocks, and substantial environmental degradation caused by human activities. Pertinent to the discussion on these issues are analyses of regional countries’ development plans and foreign policy agendas, most notably China’s Maritime Silk Road initiative. The session examines how the need for improved infrastructure, access to maritime resources and commons, and legal obligations to cooperation for environmental protection have affected the resolution and management of the existing disputes.

Speakers:

·        Dr. Teng Jianqun, Director of the Department for American Studies and Senior Research Fellow, China Institute of International Studies (CIIS)

“Economic Cooperation Initiatives: Implications for the South China Sea Disputes” (Click for Presentation)

·      Dr. Frank Umbach, Research Director, European Centre for Energy and Resource Security, King’s College London, United Kingdom

“Oil and Gas: Energy Price, Geopolitics and Implications for Resource Competition and SLOCs” (Click for Presentation)

Dr. Sébastien Colin, Researcher, Deputy Chief Editor, The French Centre for Research on Contemporary China, Hong Kong, China 

“Fishing in the South China Sea: A Source for Cooperation between China and Southeast Asia?” (Click for Presentation)

 

Prof. Nguyen Chu Hoi, Former Deputy Administrator, Vietnam’s Administration for Seas and Islands, Professor of Marine Science and Governance Policy, Vietnam National University

“Environmental Issues: Legal Obligations and Cooperation Drivers” (Click for Presentation)

End of day one

DAY 2

Tuesday - November 15, 2016

SESSION 5: Security, Politics and Diplomacy

Moderator: Dr. Ulises Granados, Coordinator of Asia-Pacific Studies, The Autonomous Technology Institute of Mexico


(Click to see VIDEO)

As the South China Sea becomes a theatre for major power rivalry, there is a need to examine the strategies and policies of the relavent powers and relations among them. What factors have driven great powers’ maritime strategies and how they have perceived each other actions. What are these powers’ goals in the South China Sea, greater security or greater power? Are there any misperceptions or security dilemmas between the claimants and between major powers? In view of rising tensions in the South China Sea, it is important to study how ASEAN has handled the regional maritime affairs and how South China Sea politics affected its claim to centrality in the Asia-Pacific regional security architecture. 

Speakers:

·        Mr. Abhijit Singh, Senior Fellow and Head of the Maritime Security Initiative at the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in New Delhi, India

“India’s Strategic Stakes in the South China Sea”  (Click for Presentation)

·     Prof. Shi Yinhong, Director of the Center for American Studies, Institute of International Relations, Renmin University, China

"Strategic Military" with "Strategic Economy": China’s Approach toward the United States and Its Pacific Partners

RADM Michael McDevitt (USN, Ret.), Senior Fellow, Strategic Studies Program, Center for Naval Analyses, USA

 “Wither US’s Rebalancing: South China Sea and the Asia-Pacific under the New US Administration”

·    Dr. Tran Viet Thai, Deputy Director General, Institute for Foreign Policy and Strategic Studies, Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam

“The South China Sea and ASEAN’s Unity-Diversity: Role, Expectation and Adaptation”  

SESSION 6: Interactions and Coordination at Sea

Moderator: RADM Michael McDevitt (USN, Ret.), Senior Fellow, Strategic Studies Program, Center for Naval Analyses, USA


(Click to see VIDEO)

This session focuses on the interactions and coordination between various forces operating in the South China Sea, including naval, air and law enforcement forces of claimant and user states of the sea. Speakers are asked to address operational and legal issues and rules of engagement (ROE), as well as questions on how to avoid and manage incidents and how to promote information sharing and cooperation in dealing with maritime threats in the South China Sea. They are also expected to explore ideas and suggestions on practical measures for regional stakeholders to utilize in order to avoid and manage incidents that might occur between their ships and aircrafts at sea.

Speakers:

·         FAdm Azhari Abdul Aziz, Former First Admiral of Royal Malaysian Navy; Political and Security Advisor at the International Committee of Red Cross ( ICRC) Geneva

“Managing South China Sea Disputes: INSEA, COLREG and CUES, Does it work?” (Click for Presentation)

·         Vice Adm. Hideaki Kaneda, Former Vice Admiral of the Japan’s Defence Force, Director of the Okazaki Institute, Tokyo, Japan

“Management of Incidents at Sea”

·         Assoc. Prof. Do Minh Thai, Rear Admiral, Deputy Chief of Staff, Vietnam People’s Navy

“Practical Cooperation in Dealing with Maritime Security Issues”

SESSION 7: Mechanisms for Managing the South China Sea Tensions

Moderator: Prof. Robert Beckman, Head, Ocean Law and Policy Programme, Centre for International Law, The National University of Singapore    


(Click to see VIDEO)

There are already a number of mechanisms in place for managing the South China Sea tensions. While these mechanisms to some extent managed to prevent tensions from escalating into conflicts, most are perceived as having overlapping functions. Besides, there are legitimate complaints that gaps still exist and that a number of global and regional institutions have not yet fully or partly utilized. At the same time, international good practices in semi-enclosed seas have not been fully explored for potential application in the South China Sea. This session examines the current state of regional security structures in dealing with South China Sea issues. It tries not only to identify existing challenges and gaps in regional architecture but also to discuss how best to use existing regional and global institutions to manage the SCS situation, as well as new possible ways and means to effectively deescalate tensions and minimize their spill-over effects on other areas.

Speakers:

·       Prof. Helmut Tuerk, Ambassador, Chairman of the Review Committee of the International Seabed Authority, Former Judge and Vice - President of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea

“Global Institutions and Their Roles: International Tribunal for the Law of Sea (ITLOS),  International Seabed Authority (ISA), Commission on the Limits of Continental Shelves (CLCS)”

·       Prof. Seokwoo Lee, Professor of International Law, Inha University Law School, and Director of Inha International Ocean Law Centre, Korea

South China Sea Arbitration and Beyond Territorial and Maritime Disputes in East Asia: Its Application to Dokdo (Click for Presentation)

·       Ms. Elina Noor, Director, Foreign Policy and Security Studies, Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS), Malaysia

“Managing the South China Sea Spill-Overs: Cyber Security as New Space for Competition or Source for Cooperation”

·      Dr. Tran Truong Thuy, Senior Research Fellow, Bien Dong Maritime Institute, Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam 

“Regional Security and Cooperation Structures in Dealing with South China Sea Issues: Conflicts, Overlaps and Possible New Mechanisms” (Click for Presentation)

Special Session 1: Fostering Cooperation in the South China Sea (Special session for Representatives from SCS Young Leaders’ Group)

Moderator: H.E. Le Cong Phung, Vice Chairman, The Foundation for East Sea Studies


(Click to see VIDEO)

Since 2015, this annual South China Sea Conference series has initiated the Young Leaders Program (SCS-YLP), which has attracted a dozen of young scholars and PhD candidates from many countries who come to gether to discuss ways to foster cooperation in the South China Sea. The SCS-YLP has two main objectives: (i) getting fresh views from young scholars on how to manage the disputes in the South China Sea; and (ii) engaging and building the research interests of new generation of scholars on the maritime disputes and dispute management in the South China Sea.

Representatives of the Young Leaders group will present the group's discussion and their views on how to manage disputes and promote cooperation in the South China Sea.

Special Session 2: Free Discussion

Moderator: H.E. Le Cong Phung, Vice Chairman, The Foundation for East Sea Studies

 

Closing Remarks