On October 27, 2026, Kumar Ramakrishna, Dean of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) of Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, and his delegation visited the SOUTH CHINA SEA STRATEGIC SITUATION PROBING INITIATIVE (SCSPI). Collectively held the seventh SCSPI-RSIS South China Sea Round Table Conference. Nine Chinese experts from SCSPI and six experts from RSIS exchanged views and conducted discussions on the current situation and related issues in the South China Sea.
The meeting was co-chaired by Hu Bo, director of SCSPI, and Jane Chan, coordinator of Maritime Security Programme of Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies, RSIS.During nearly five hours of discussions, experts from both sides reviewed recent developments in the South China Sea and assessed the current situation and future trends. They engaged in in-depth discussions on the implications for the South China Sea and Southeast Asia of major geopolitical developments, including establishing a constructive and strategically stable relationship between China and the United States, Hormuz crisis and tensions in the Middle East.
With regard to regional rule-making and practical cooperation, the two sides exchanged views on the prospects for negotiations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) and its potential role. Both sides agreed that the negotiation process itself is important. Even if a final text is eventually reached, institutionalized meetings between China and ASEAN member states to implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and the COC will continue to play an important role in stabilizing expectations among the parties and promoting practical maritime cooperation. In addition, the two sides held extensive discussions on the objectives, roles, and implications of the military presence and activities of extra-regional countries in the region.
During concluding session, representatives of both sides spoke highly of the mechanism of SCSPI-RSIS South China Sea Roundtable Conference, which was launched in January 2020 and the two parties also reached consensus on further deepening exchanges and cooperation.
SCSPI
With a view to maintaining and promoting the peace, stability and prosperity of the South China Sea, we launched the South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative (SCSPI) in April of 2019. The Initiative aims to integrate intellectual resources and open source information worldwide and keep track of important actions and major policy changes of key stakeholders and other parties involved. It will provide professional data services and analysis reports to parties concerned, helping them keep competition under control, and with a view to seek partnerships.