Defense News
04/21/2010
China Maritime Security Conference Set to Begin
By WENDELL MINNICK
TAIPEI - The U.S. Naval War College (NWC) in Newport, R.I., will host a conference from May 4-5 entitled "Chinese and American Approaches to Non-Traditional Security Challenges: Implications for the Maritime Domain."
Sponsored by the NWC's China Maritime Studies Institute, the objective of the conference is derived from the 2007 Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Seapower goal to "foster and sustain cooperative relationships with more international partners," conference organizers said
The conference will serve to continue a dialogue among Chinese and American specialists regarding the development of cooperation in the maritime domain. "In doing so, it draws heavily on the experience of the third annual conference in 2007, which framed the issues under the theme 'Defining a Maritime Partnership in China.' " This conference hopes to "create the intellectual framework for further enhanced U.S.-China maritime cooperation."
Key U.S. moderators and speakers for the conference will include Dennis Blasko, CNA; Andrew Erickson, NWC; David Finkelstein, CNA; Bonnie Glaser, CSIS; Lyle Goldstein, NWC; retired Rear Adm. Eric McVadon; George Oliver, NWC; Jonathan Pollack, NWC; Andrew Scobell, Texas A&M; Adm. Patrick Walsh, U.S. Navy, Pacific Fleet Commander; and Rear Adm. James Wisecup, president, NWC.
Chinese speakers attending this year include Shi Yinhong, Renmin University; Yu Wanli, Peking University; Pang Zhongying, Renmin University; Wang Dehua, Jiaotong University; Sun Kai, China Ocean University; Zhang Jian, Pudong University; Xia Liping, Tongji University; and retired PLA Gen. Pan Zhanqiang, China Reform Forum.
A contingent of Chinese military officials declined at the last minute to attend the conference. Disappointed, Goldstein said it was regrettable that military-to-military relationships have "not evolved to the point to enable this important dialogue between the navies."
Goldstein said NWC was still pleased to welcome a large and capable team of scholars from China to discuss important questions related to non-traditional security.
"When direct dialogue is difficult, academic or so called 'track two' discussions assume new importance," he said. "We will continue to try to engage and build a stronger U.S.-China partnership to support maritime security in the Asia-Pacific region."
