On 17 December 2016, NISCSS President Wu Shicun attended the 2017 annual conference themed "Chinese Reform amid Global Crises", which was held by the Global Times in Beijing and brought together over 100 experts, scholars, officials and other authoritative figures both from China and abroad.

During his speech, Wu pointed out that the U.S. was not happy to see peace in the South China Sea, and whether extra-regional states could muddy the waters in the South China Sea depended on two factors. First, extra-regional states would attempt to muddy the waters. For example, U.S. Pacific Fleet Commander Harris recently asserted that the U.S. was ready to counter China in the South China Sea. Second, the final result did not depend on the intentions and behaviors of the trouble-maker, but on the following three factors. 1. Whether there will be major events in the South China Sea, like the arbitration initiated by the Philippines against China, land reclamation and operations by the U.S. under the pretext of freedom of navigation. 2. Whether states in the South China Sea region echo to external interferences; 3. Chinese actions in the South China Sea. He also remarked that China-U.S. competition in politics and sea power will continue in the South China Sea.

During the conference, Wu was interviewed by multiple media.