Mitigating the South China Sea Disputes

The South China Sea and surrounding nations.
Map courtesy of the South China Sea Virtual Library

This workshop assessed opportunities for reducing the risks of armed conflict over the disputed Spratly Islands by encouraging littoral states to adopt a cooperative monitoring approach that uses high-resolution commercial observation satellites.

• Panel I
  Policymaking Context for the South China Sea Disputes
  9:15-10:45 AM

  Chair: Patrick M. Cronin, U.S. Institute of Peace
  Speakers:
  "Diplomatic and Legal Context," Christopher Joyner, Georgetown University
  "Energy Demands and Competition," Erik Kreil, U.S. Energy Information Administration
  "Security Trends and Concerns," Michael McDevitt, Center for Naval Analyses

  Break

• Panel II
  Cooperative Satellite Monitoring for the South China Sea
  11:00-12:30 PM

  Chair: Ray Williamson, Space Policy Institute, George Washington University
  Speakers:
  "Formulating a Cooperative Satellite Monitoring Regime for the South China Sea," John Baker, RAND
  "Assessing the Conflict Potential of the Spratly Islands Disputes," David Wiencek, Armor Group, Inc.

  Break

• Panel III
  Imperatives for Cooperation in the South China Sea
  1:30-2:45 PM

  Chair: Robert Scher, U.S. Department of Defense
  Speakers:
  "Environmental Challenges in Southeast Asia," Doug Fuller, George Washington University
  "Piracy Problems and Cooperative Responses," Stanley Weeks, SAIC
  "Cooperation on Dealing with Natural and Humanitarian Disasters," Richard Ragan, USAID

  Break

• Panel IV
  Discussion of Policy Implications and Next Steps
  3:00-4:00 PM

  Chair: Patrick M. Cronin, U.S. Institute of Peace
  Speaker: Judith Strotz, East & Pacific Affairs, U.S. Department of State
  Discussants:
  Chen Qimao, Shanghai Center for RimPac Strategic and International Studies
  Robert Adamson, University of British Columbia
  Ralph Cossa, Pacific Forum