Over 80 experts and scholars converged in Dalian City, northeast China’s Liaoning Province, to tackle the hot-button issues surrounding the South China Sea at a groundbreaking conference on ocean governance and development held on Friday.
Hosted by Dalian Maritime University, the event themed “Refuting and Responding to the Arbitral Award on the South China Sea: A Chinese Perspective,” offered a collaborative space for deep dives into legal challenges, regional dynamics, and strategies for national ocean governance.
Dr. Shan Hongjun, president of Dalian Maritime University, spotlighted the importance of the South China Sea, stressing that it touches on national sovereignty and vital maritime rights. He rallied universities and think tanks to harness their academic prowess to protect China’s territorial claims and amplify its voice globally.
Adding to the discourse, Wu Shicun, director of the academic committee at China’s National Institute for South China Sea Studies, criticized the arbitral award related to the South China Sea. He described it as a flawed and politically charged move used by external forces to complicate the situation and unfairly label China as a “troublemaker” in the region.
Conference experts reaffirmed that China’s stance in the South China Sea is rooted in solid historical and legal grounds. They argued that the arbitral award ignored essential facts and breached international laws like the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The scholars urged all involved parties to expedite the adoption of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea. They believe this step is crucial for establishing a strong framework to maintain peace and stability in the area.
In a significant highlight, Dalian Maritime University unveiled the “China’s Maritime Law Development Report (2025)”, mapping out future advancements in maritime legislation.
The conference emphasized the pivotal role that young academics and experts play in addressing complex maritime issues and fostering cooperation to ensure regional harmony.
