Maritime disputes have emerged as major potential flashpoints in the Asia-Pacific region. The tense confrontations that have threatened regional security and stability are fueled by the complex historical relationships between countries, disagreement over maritime sovereignty issues, divergent understandings of international law, and many countries’ relentless pursuit of their national interests. Yet oceans need not be a source of regional tensions. On the contrary, these vast maritime expanses provide opportunities for cooperation among all relevant stakeholders. Oceans are crucial to international trade, global development, and human wellbeing and will play an increasingly significant in the global economy in the future.

To broaden our knowledge of the relationship between regional maritime and global economic issues, Taiwan Center for Security Studies (TCSS) hosted the International Conference on Maritime Challenges and Market Opportunities: “Facilitating Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific” on August 29–30, 2017, which was attended by domestic and foreign participants from academia and industry. In addition to maritime security and geopolitical issues, the conference also explored other key topics related to maritime affairs, including the sustainability of the ocean economy, fishing, shipbuilding, maritime energy (e.g. tidal power, offshore wind energy), seabed resources, emerging blue-water technologies, maritime startups, marine environmental protection, marine tourism, and the oceanic cultural and creative industries.

Through discussions of these interrelated topics, the international conference aimed to bring together individuals of diverse backgrounds to share alternative perspectives for regional peace and development and innovative solutions for maritime dispute management. It is our hope that, through such inclusive dialogue on the relationship between maritime disputes and market opportunities, we can together make a meaningful contribution to addressing one of the most pressing issues of our time.

For further details about the event, see the conference handbook.

Tuesday, August 29

Welcome Remarks

• Fu-Kuo Liu (劉復國), Executive Director, Taiwan Center for Security Studies / Institute of International Relations, National Chengchi University, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
• Paul S. P. Hsu (徐小波), Chairman, Association of Emerging Market Studies Taiwan (R.O.C.)
• Rockford Weitz, Professor, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, USA
• Kuan-Hsiung Wang (王冠雄), Secretary General, Institute of Marine Affairs and Policy, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
• Fang Chang (張璠), Senior Consultant, XDL Capital Co., Ltd. , Taiwan (R.O.C.)

Keynote Speech

• “Facilitating Maritime Cooperation: Challenges and Opportunities” – Admiral Richard Y. K. Chen (陳永康), Former Vice Minister, Ministry of National Defense, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
• Moderator: Linda Liu (劉怜君), Vice President, International Council of Women, Taiwan (R.O.C.)

Session 1: Maritime Security and Geopolitics

• Moderator: Admiral Richard Y. K. Chen (陳永康), Former Vice Minister, Ministry of National Defense, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
• “The Changing Nature of Maritime Security” – Vijay Sakhuja, Director, National Maritime Foundation, India
• “Maritime Security and Geo-Politics: The Dialogue between ‘Vital Interests’ & ‘Core Interests’ amid the Game of Thrones in the Pacific Century” – Laurence Lin (林文隆), Professor, Ming Chuan University, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
• “Challenges in Facilitating Maritime Security Cooperation in the Post-Arbitration South China Sea Geopolitical Environment” – Rommel Banlaoi, Chairman, Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research, Philippines
• Discussant: “Maritime Security and Geopolitics” – Richard Hu (胡瑞舟), Deputy Executive director, Taiwan Center for Security Studies, Taiwan (R.O.C.)

Lunch Talk

• “Overview of Taiwan’s Cruise Industry” – Ting-Yi Tsai (蔡丁義), Vice President, Taiwan International Ports Corporation, Ltd., Taiwan (R.O.C.)
• Moderator: Fu-Kuo Liu (劉復國), Executive Director, Taiwan Center for Security Studies / Institute of International Relations, National Chengchi University, Taiwan (R.O.C.)

Session 2: Global Maritime Governance

• Moderator: Sing-Hwa Hu (胡興華), Managing Director, Rural Development Foundation, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
• “Maritime Governance: A Tale of Two Seas” – John Burgess, Professor, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, USA
• “The Potential for the ‘Socialization’ of Maritime Global Governance” – Leonard Hammer, Visiting Professor, University of Arizona, USA/Israel
• “Governance through Legal Measures: A Review on RFMOs and the Development of High Seas Fisheries Regulations” – Dustin Kuan-Hsiung Wang (王冠雄), Professor, Graduate Institute of Political Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
• Discussant: Yann-Huei Song (宋燕輝), Research Fellow, Institute of European and American Academia Sinica, Taiwan (R.O.C.)

Session 3: Ocean Resources and Fishing

• Moderator: Jen-Chyuan Lee (李健全), Chair Professor, National Taiwan Ocean University, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
• “Looking for Fishing Dispute Resolutions and Cross-National Cooperation in Asian Countries” – Steven Shyu (徐承堉), Upwelling Ocean Inc., Taiwan (R.O.C.)
• “Challenges and Opportunities of Taiwan Far Sea Fisheries” – Kwang-Ming Liu, (劉光明), Professor, Institute of Marine Affairs and Resources Management, National Taiwan Ocean University, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
• “Fishery Cooperation over Overlapping Maritime Zones: A Case Study of the Barents Sea” – Ray Tsung-Han Tai (戴宗翰), Associate Professor, Law School, Shandong University, China/Taiwan (R.O.C.)
• Discussant: “Global and Taiwan’s Fisheries” – Peter Ho (何勝初), Advisor, Overseas Fisheries Development Council of Republic of China, Taiwan (R.O.C.)

Session 4: Blue-Tech Innovation and Entrepreneurship

• Moderator: Samuel H. K. Wu (吳秀光), Vice Chairman, Ever Rich D.F.S. Corporation, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
• “Blue Tech Innovation in Taiwan and the Greater Boston Area” – Rockford Weitz, Professor, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, USA
• “Lessons Learned In Blue-Tech Entrepreneurship” – Matthew Merighi, Assistant Director Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy Maritime Studies Program, Tufts University, USA
• “Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Blue Economy” – Manjeet Kripalani, Executive Director, Gateway House, India
• “Carbon-Free Islands” – Yo Hao Chen (陳佑豪), Global Founder Chairman, Infrastructure Development Operation, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
• Discussant: Tai-Wen Hsu (許泰文), Vice President , National Taiwan Ocean University, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
• Discussant: Sammy Su (蘇冬蘭), Low Carbon Initiative Director, The European Chamber of Commerce Taiwan, Taiwan (R.O.C.)

Wednesday, August 30

Session 5: Ocean Energy and Sustainable Economic Development

• Moderator: Ching-Ta Chuang(莊慶達), Dean, College of Maritime Industry, Taipei University of Marine Technology, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
• “Offshore Energy: Taiwan Recognizes Opportunities and Challenges” – Barbara Kates-Garnick, Professor, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, USA
• “Financial Models for Sustainable Maritime Development: Extending the Ecosystem Metaphor” – Patrick Schena, Professor, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, USA
• “Protect the Ocean’s Wildlife and Wild Places” – Jay Lee, Executive Director, National Geographic Foundation for Science & Exploration Asia, Korea
• Discussant: Chien Te Fan (范建得), Professor, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan (R.O.C.)

Session 6: Roundtable Discussion

• Moderator: Paul S. P. Hsu (徐小波), Chairman, Association of Emerging Market Studies, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
• Rockford Weitz, Professor, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, USA
• Pou Sothirak, Executive Director, Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace, Cambodia
• “Fish Discard” – Peter D. M. Chiang (江德敏), Founder, Hanaqua Tech Inc., Taiwan (R.O.C.)
• Mignonne Chan, (詹滿容), Director General, India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (Taipei Office), Taiwan (R.O.C.)
• Francis Y. H. Kan (甘逸驊), Deputy Executive Director, Taiwan Center for Security Studies, Taiwan (R.O.C.)

Closing Remarks

• Fu-Kuo Liu (劉復國), Executive Director, Taiwan Center for Security Studies / Institute of International Relations, National Chengchi University, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
• Rockford Weitz, Professor, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, USA