On 9 January 2017, NISCSS President Wu Shicun attended the 4th U.S.-China Track II Dialogue on Maritime Affairs and International Law, which was co-organized by the National Institute for South China Sea Studies and the U.S. National Committee on United States-China Relations on January 9-10, 2017 in Haikou, Hainan Province.

The participants conducted in-depth discussions about the latest developments of the situation in the South China Sea and their regional security implications, international law and maritime dispute settlement mechanisms, future South China Sea policy of the new U.S. administration and China-U.S. maritime cooperation.

This dialogue brought together over 20 scholars and experts from think tanks, universities and government agencies of China and the U.S., including the NISCSS, the National Defence University of the PLA, Nanjing University, Fudan University, East China University of Political Science and Law, the U.S. National Committee on United States-China Relations, the Office of the Legal Adviser of the U.S. Department of State, New York university, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Hofstra University and the Naval War College.

The dialogue was co-chaired by NISCSS President Wu Shicun and President Stephen A. Orlins of the U.S. National Committee on United States-China Relations.