A two-day sub-forum on the South China Sea concluded Friday with participants urging greater restraint, dialogue, and cooperation to maintain regional peace.
South China Sea Forum Calls for Dialogue and Cooperation
The South China Sea sub-forum, part of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2026, drew approximately 200 attendees from around 20 countries, including the US, the UK, Australia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Malaysia. Participants included scholars, officials, diplomats, and industry representatives.
Discussions focused on four key areas: cooperation mechanisms, marine environmental protection as a means to foster China-ASEAN ocean governance, rules and order in the South China Sea, and marine economic development related to the Hainan Free Trade Port.
Keynote speakers highlighted increasing risks stemming from major power competition, unilateral actions, and the ongoing effects of the 2016 South China Sea arbitration case.
Liu Zhenmin, China’s special envoy for Climate Change and former under-secretary-general of the United Nations, emphasized the importance of learning from the instability in the Middle East to ensure peaceful coexistence in East Asia. He advocated for regional arrangements to ensure long-term stability and protect maritime routes in the South China Sea.
Liu also called for accelerated negotiations between China and ASEAN countries on a South China Sea code of conduct to build trust and enhance maritime cooperation. He added that East Asia should expedite its energy transition and establish a new energy mechanism to bolster regional energy security.
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