On 18 August 2018, the 6th South China Sea-themed Summer Camp concluded in Haikou. Twenty participants who are post-graduate students and junior scholars from 13 universities and research institutes across the Taiwan Straits, were awarded certificates for successfully completing the program.

Co-organized by the National Institute for South China Sea Studies (NISCSS), Taiwan Center for Security Studies of Taiwan Chengchi University and China Institute of Boundary and Ocean Studies of Wuhan University, the Summer Camp offered a one-week program of seminars, field studies and group works. The program focused on key regional topics such as the status quo of the South China Sea, cross-Straits relations, regional security, historical archiving and legal issues of the South China Sea disputes, marine economy, sustainable development and conservation of marine resources, as well as emergency response and maritime search and rescue. Prominent scholars from renowned universities and academic institutes across the Straits served as speakers for the Summer Camp, including the NISCSS, Nanjing University, Academia Sinica, Taiwan Chengchi University, Taiwan Normal University, and Nanhua University. Besides, participants also visited the Hainan Maritime Safety Administration, China (Hainan) Museum of the South China Sea and Hainan Museum for field studies. The program has met the participant’s expectation of not only increasing their knowledge about the various aspects of the South China Sea dispute, but also enhancing the mutual understanding and friendship among participants across the Straits.  

At the closing ceremony, participants also presented their reports in groups on various topics such as China-Philippine relations, China-Vietnam relations, the United States and the South China Sea dispute, as well as negotiations on the South China Sea Code of Conduct. Speakers present at the closing ceremony spoke highly of the participants’ academic capacity, as well as their enthusiasm and diligence for learning, and encouraged these promising young scholars to devote their career to South China Sea Studies and relevant fields to further promote cross-Straits exchanges and cooperation in the future.