New Approaches to the South China Sea Conflicts

Friday 20 October, 5:00pm to 6:00pm
China Centre Lecture Theatre
south china seas

Conveners: Asian Studies Centre, St Antony’s College; University of Oxford China Centre

Speakers: Antonio Carpio, Bill Hayton, Nong Hong, Nguyễn Hồng Thao

A panel discussion with Antonio Carpio (Supreme Court of the Philippines), Bill Hayton (Chatham House), Nong Hong (Institute for China-America Studies) and Nguyễn Hồng Thao (Diplomacy Academy of Vietnam)

The South China Sea conflicts pose a regional threat to peace, maritime security and economic progress in ASEAN, the coastal states along South China Sea (SCS) and global trade. All of the main claimants, including China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei, have ratified UNCLOS (The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea). UNCLOS contains specific mechanisms for dispute resolution but these have not yet proven to be effective. Furthermore, as evidenced by China’s decision not to participate in the recent arbitration case brought by the Philippines or to accept the decision of the tribunal, it is unclear whether UNCLOS (or international agreements like it) can be a productive tool for managing this conflict. Given this situation, the panellists will discuss creative ways to respond to these seemingly intractable conflicts.

All are welcome.

Chair: Rana Mitter. Convenors: Nagamuttu Ravindranathan and Matthew J. Walton.

Enquiries: asian@sant.ox.ac.uk or 01865-274559    

Picture: Subi Reef, Spratly Islands, South China Sea, in May 2015. US Navy.