On 12-13 December 2019, the Workshop on Building Military-to-Military Confidence in the South China Sea was held successfully in Haikou. Organized by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and supported by the National Institute for South China Sea Studies (NISCSS), the workshop brought together more than 40 participants from relevant government departments and renowned think tanks and research institutes of China and ASEAN member states. In-depth discussions were held on topics such as existing practices of building military-to-military confidence in the South China Sea, relevant problems and challenges, experience from other regions and the way forward.

On 12-13 December 2019, the Workshop on Building Military-to-Military Confidence in the South China Sea was held in Haikou

The workshop was co-chaired by Madam He Xiangqi, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Border and Ocean Affairs of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ms. Junever Mahilum-West, Assistant Secretary of Department of Foreign Affairs and Director-General of ASEAN-Philippines National Secretariat of the Philippines. NISCSS President Wu Shicun attended the workshop and delivered remarks on the closing ceremony. Dr. Wu reviewed the experiences of China and ASEAN countries in the past 20 years in enhancing military-to-military confidence and security cooperation, as well as their efforts in establishing a relevant institutional framework. Regarding the way forward, he put forward five suggestions. First, China and ASEAN countries need to move faster in negotiating the COC, building the regional security cooperation mechanism, and making institutional arrangements on the conduct of the parties. Second, China and ASEAN need to establish more effective high-level and strategic dialogue on military and security issues. Third, China and ASEAN countries need to expand both traditional and non-traditional security cooperation in the South China Sea. Fourth, China and ASEAN need to put in place a track two defense and security dialogue. Fifth, littoral states of the South China Sea need to step up cooperation and regional economic integration to lay the economic foundation for the community of a shared future in the South China Sea.

Dr. Wu Shicun delivered remarks during the closing ceremony

Group Photo of the Representatives